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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTEJt,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


A'. 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notas  tachniquat  at  bibliographiquas 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  ma/  be  bibiiographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantiy  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  chaclted  below. 


D 


D 


n 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagia 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pellicul6e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  blacic)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


r~|    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  matenal/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  murgin/ 

Lareliure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exomplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  M  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 


n    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculies 


Pageu  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  deoolordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 


I      I    Pages  detached/ 


Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthroughy 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  in6gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


rri  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  film6es  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grflce  A  la 
ginirositi  de: 

BibliothAque  nationale  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  Iteeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


OriginaS  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  fiimi,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  f  ilm6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  fiimis  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  —►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


IViaps.  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6, 11  est  filmi  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  lies  diagrammes  suivants 
iliustrent  la  mdthode. 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

■vT'^^^.'r'^^Er^'v^flTTS'ifF^^"'*^-':* 


31 8t  CuNGREeS; 

lit  Session. 


[HO.  OF  REPS,] 


■xV.  •;, 


Ex.  Doo*. 
No.  69. 


r- 


GEOLOGICAL  REPORT  ON  THE  COPPER  LANDS  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  LAND 

DISTRICT,  MICHIGAN. 

««^H  J-ii  ,.  ,„™,„.'  rJ'-O  il  1. 1:'  il  $ 


•^    '  LETTER  .   . 

-   .0l^i  ,£1  Vmh  f/^ti-rfeiili  FROH        -    ■■       ■        '      ■  ■' 

'i  tHE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  IK TERIOR J 3'S.J 

Tn*  geotagieat  report  on  the  copper  lands  of  Lake  Superior  lam  distriei^ 

Michigan.  ^ 

'jjfite  'f"iimM  f«rfl  .'nii  DiiB  ,■  (f-^'v*  .  "nffi  {•<•  ^5y:u/j}eiB  j,y'i'f!ii<'!  LifVri'i-) 

i>3U«^-  •  May1§,  185C.  '<^i^\  nhhai^  * 

ilrnfit,      Refened  to  Ute  Commiuee  on  Public  Lands,  anil  ordered  to  be  primed.,-  <j  ,   ,•'  ^ wj[| 

fr;ii  lo  iji(viF!rjaiUJb  erii  -.v.      Jxns^  14, 1850.  ^ujii^^ionr  r/vs  '^>ii.i'n3>:.')h  '«W 

.f'Hmcj)  bKfrolf>ci  "   10,000  copies  extra  ordered  to  be  printed.^ ^  kU  Jo  J-^IUT  -f^  f£i/;!<j 

Department  OP  THE  Interior,  >{ 

Wi*A»Vig"toft,  4prt/29,  1850. 

Sir:  1  have  the  honor  to  cpmmunicate,  herewith,  a  letter  trom  the 
Conunissioner  of  the  General  Land  Office,  transmitting  the  report  of    ' 
Messrs.  Foster  and  Whitney,  United  States  geologists,  on  the  copper  lands 
of  the  Lake  Superior  land  district,  Michigan. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be.  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  EYimOy  Secretary, 
Hon.  Howell  Cobb, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 


General  Land  Office,  April  26,  1850. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  communicate,  herewith,  a  report  from  Messrs. 
Foster  anri  Whitney,  United  States  geologists,  on  the  "copper  lands"  of 
the  Ijake  Superior  land  district,  in  Michigan,  accompanied  by  a  number 
of  views  of  the  principal  features  of  that  interesting  region,  with  diagrams 
of  the  mines,  &>c.,  illustrating  the  work.  There  is,  also,  accompanying^ 
this  report,  a  facsimile  of  a  map  of  Lake  Superior  and  the  adjacent  re* 
gions,  made  by  the  Jesuit  missionaries  in  1679  and  1671,  and  published 
at  Paris  in  1672. 

This  report  contains  a  vast  fund  of  valuable  information,  and  the  pub- 
lication of  it  will  be  an  important  addition  to  the  cause  of  science.  It 
would  have  been  communicated  with  my  annual  report,  but  the  time 
since  those  gentlemen  were  appointed  was  too  short  to  enable  them  to 


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iWtVNo.  oBPi 


,9.B3J'i^7o'^  la  if. 

.iKwr'^'  is! 


prepare  it  in  season.    It  is  now  submitted  as  suppbmentary  to  that  report, 
and  I  respectfully  request  that  it  may  b«  so  communicated  to  Congress. 

With  much  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 
^'^-  J.  BUTTER  FIELD,  Commissioner. -O^ 

Hon.  Thomas  EwiNG,    K/uii     . 

Secretary  of  the  Tntei'ior. 

^  J  ---'.■'...'.  ^  i  r-t    ' 


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Boston,  April  15,  1850. 

Sir:  We  herev.ilh  present  to  you  a  report  on  tlie  "copper  lands"  of  the 
Lake  Superior  land  district.  When  it  is  considered  that  this  district  em- 
braces an  area  of  more  than  sixteen  thousand  square  miles;  that  nearly  the 
whole  of  that  area  is  an  unbroken  wilderness;  that  we  were  required  to 
explore  considerable  portions  of  it  with  sufficient  minuteness  to  designate 
the  character  of  each  quarter  section ;  and  that,  in  the  accomplishmeht  of 
this  object,  our  camp  equipage  and  provisions,  and  even  our  canoes,  were 
carried  for  long  distances  on  the  backs  of  men;  and  that  the  limited  state 
of  our  supplies  often  compelled  us  to  press  on  without  regard  to  weather — 
under,  these  circumstances,  we  trust  Are  shall  be  pardoned  if  it  be  found 
that  we  have  fallen  into  minor  errors,  or  hastily  passedsome  points  which 
were  deserving  of  a  more  mipute  examination.  In  the  delineation  of  the 
main  features  of  the  region,  we  trust  that  this  repcjrt  will  be  found  correct. 

With  sincere  thanks  for  the  aid  afforded  us  in  the  prosecution  of  these 
researches  by  several  of  the  officers  attached  to  th?  bureau  over  which 
you  preside,  we  subscribe  ourselves, 
.   Sir,  with  great  respect,  your  most  obedient  servants,  ' 

,1.;...  ,    '      -  J.  W.  FOSTER,  .    , 

i;;|;;;;;;^; -ni^f^  j.d.whitney,   -  • -^^^ 

To  Hon.  JhSTIX  BUTTERFIELD,    .»/'!,"<  V'    'i'   '■'''  ';';'"  •^'-- ',*" 

noil  odj  ?5/fitl  I 


■'W.)';'i. 


Commissioner  of  the  Gemrttl  Laiia  Offte^ 


•■.:Uiv)  J.I  ?WoH  Mill 


.•>.yMl\s\i\y>.\v\i%\'\n  "y/vvW  ■..\\'\«>  -wift^v^*^. 


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Btamsifiil)  dli'ff  tiioitio;  -gii'De-xi'^ini  teiU'lo  ^"njiJt.ai  Uifii'iimqndt'io  if'i-ovi  t » 

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bmhiU\ua  hnr  .ITdf  htiz  WTcH  ni  R^iffUirM^pln;  iiu--l  ndt  y'{  tdnmt  .".ivi'.j 

iaiit  "jfi  UK?  ,n'i\n  lawny^j  -(iH-ilij^Kr  h;>i<ir^iH|i;iiiuu<'9  i;i>'i<f  ov^w?  !>hj  v     - 


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REPORT^ 

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OEOLOGY  AND  TOPOGRAPHY- 


OF  A  PORTION  or  THE 


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LAKE  SUPERIOR  LAND  DISTRICT, 


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THE  STATE  OF  MICHIQAJ^: 


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J.  W.  FOSTER  AND  J.  D.  WHITNEY, 

UNITED   STATES   GEOLOGISTS. 


'?r   TWO   PARTS. 


'      PART  I. 
COPPER  LANDS. 


WASHINGTON: 
PRII^TED   FOR  THE   HOITSB  01    KUi'K- 

1850. 


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;:'^:^^*    GEaLOGY   AND   TOPOGRAPHY    ,i'"i 


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OF   A  POKTIOW  OF      .  ,*>.(«         r  •?• 

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THE  LAKE  SUPERIOR  LAND  DISTRICT, 


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THE  STATE  OP  MICHIGAN.       :  ..  ^     'I         tOI 


v*  i.  1- .  t  «  I- 


INTRODUCTION. 


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iBtstorical  sketch. — RaymbauU  and  Jogues^s  voyage  to  Saut.  Ste.  Marie,'—; 
Rent  Mestiard  visits  Lake  Superior. — Alhiiez  follows. — DaMon  and 
Marquette  follow. —  Grand  Qyuncil. — Marquette  proceeds  to  Cheen 
Bay. — Discovers  the  Mississippi. — His  death. — Alloiiez's  death. — Early 
map  of  this  region. — Effect  of  the  Missionary  labors  oh  the  Indians.-" 
Travels  of  Hennepin;  Charlevoix;  Henry;  Mackenzie. — Expedition 
of  General  Cass ;  of  Schoolcraft ;  of  Maj.  Long. — Dr.  HougfUon ;  his 
labors  and  death. —  The  treaties  by  which  this  ^iMric't  was  ceded. —  The 
severalaetsof  the  government  in  refeience  the)  t/.  —  The  act  authorizing 
t/ie  survey. — Its  organization. 

..■.'••■         •    ..  .V  -',,.  '.:,••  ■'    ...[, 

The  first  steps  towards?  the  exploration  of  the  country  bordering  on  the 
great  chain  of  North  American  lakes  were  taken  by  the  Jesuits  of  Canada, 
more  than  two' centuries  ago,  under  the  auspices  of  Count  Frontenac, 
then  governor  general  of  that  region. 

On  the  7th  of  September,  1641,  Charles  Raymbault  and  Isaac  Jogues, 
two  missionaries  of  the  order  of  Jesus — an  order  whoso  memorials  are  to 
be  found  in  every  quarter  of  the  habitable  earth — accompanied  by  several 
Hurons,  left  the  bay  of  Pentanguishene  in  a  bark  canoe  for  Saut  Ste. 
liniie.  At  the'  head  of  this  bay  they  had  established  a  mission,  ti 
formed,  at  that  time,  the  western  terminus  of  the  travelled  route  between 
Kontreal  and  iiake  Huron,  by  way  of  the  Ottawa  river  and  Lake  Simcoe, 
and  for  years  afterwards,  while  the  power  of  Prance  in  the  Northwest  re- 
mained in  the  ascendant,  constituted  an  important  link  in  a  chain  of  posts 
extending  for  iTvore  than  two  thousand  miles. 

The  route  of  Raymbault  and  Jogues  lay  through  the  Georgian  bay,  and 
'thence  among  the  countless  islands  that  stud  the  channel  of  the  St.  Mary's 


Doo.  No.  <iO. 


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rlv«r.  A(\«ii'  n  voyn^^n  of  imvHiJrmi  tlnvH  Ih^y  firrlviMl  iif  llm  ChIIn  (Hani,) 
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noiiIm.  Till*  uIiiiikIiiik'ii  of  wliiUi  ilili,an(l  llm  liifiliiliiH  li>rni|iiiirtrig  tlinm 
in  llio  liiiiiiiinK  t'iii>i*lr<i  linvn  iiiiido  iIiIn  \\\v  cIion«ii  ntnorl  ol'tlm  ('hi|>|ic 


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(or  <<«Miiiiriii>i.  Tlio  t'liinfN  inct'lvMl  iIkhii  lomlly  iiiiil  invilnd  tliriii  to 
liwnll  ill  (heir  iitiili^l.  *<  Wn  will  oinliiiicn  yon  iin  lirolliorN,"  (liny  Miiit, 
*'  niid  |tio(li  'y  your  woiih." 

'rii«y  liiM'n  liuiiiM'd  ol'llin  iMi  .li<iiio  (il'ii  ImIui  nIiII  licyotid,  rtdlrd  l>y  llm 
liitliiuiN  Kitolii •^llllllili,  (l)i^:  liiko,)  r)iir|inr*rdiiM  In  iiinKiiitndn  ritlmr  Ifiiinn 
or  Mlt'liiKiin,  ilitMi  tMillnd  lllitHijn,  hoyond  wIiono  wi'Mtorn  liniilN  wan  m 
(MMililiy  (loNliliitc  ot'lrtxM,  liiit  nivoiod  willi  ^iiiNriy  |iliiiiiN,  iIii'oiikI)  which 
niiniK^'i  liri'dN  of  IiiiII'mIo  tind  door, 

lloi'o  d\v<t||  lli(<  iSiotis  or  MiidoiioMMJ,  n  rum  iil  oiu'o  wiirlilu^  iiiid  iii4loiii« 
iliUilo.  At  iliiii  day  It  limd  oxInUmI  hotwiHtu  (lio  two  (lilHm,  wliidi  liM 
Ihmmi  |tn|ioiiiiiti<d  to  ilio  |iroN(!iil  titixii. 

liUlo  III  lli(<  MtiiNoli  ItMytidiiuill  irliit'iicd  lo  Pi'liliillHlliNliono  willi  (fin  in- 
toiilinn  of  loviNJiin^  ilio  iStiiii  ill  llio  MiKM-tMidiii/ki;  N|iriiif<,  mid  i^MlnldiNliiiig 
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iioNni'cs  (Old  |iiiviilioii;(,  WMN  liiNl.  limiyiiiK  Idiii  lo  llm  kiuvo.  'I'Iii'  lidlow-- 
lug  v(>Mi  lio  itiniiK'd'  Willi  .Iouikvi  lo  iiiii'liiM*,  wlu»i«^  Im  dird  ( ii-tolM«r  ifi, 
UWi.  I'\illii<i' .louiicM  nIiii'IiuI  lo  riMiirii,  bill  ill  iiNi'oiidiii|<  (III)  Nt.  Ijiwrnnno 
w^h  I'lipliircd  liy  llio  Molii(wl<M,  n  prcdiiloiy  liiiiid  iiiioNliii;;  (lin  Nlioron  and 
t4'ilinl»i'i<*s  of  liidvo  l'li'i<«,  AUiM'  Iwiviiif^  Im'cii  NiiltjocMtMl  lo  tho  iiioNt  i^iM>- 
minions  lr<<iitiiii>ul,  liiiiiN<<lf  .Nt'oiiri;«<d,Miid  liiN  lliiroii  iillnixlanlH  (■onniiitUMl 
to  llio  ll;uin's,  Iio  wiiM  I  liiiiiMlcly  rnnsoiniMl  liy  iliti  Diilcli  in  (ho  vicinity  of 
Alhiniy.  Il(>  r(<viMiiinl  '''nnuMt,  hui  soon  K'ini'tiod  lo  iho  mwm  of  hi.t  la- 
born  wl(h  a  ^piri(  nniduu  ul  and  a  /omI  nnuiKMichod. 

Uon««  MosnnnMollowrd  in  (ho  (nn'k  of  Haynilmnll.  On  Iho  2Hth  of 
Aui^iisl,  KW'tO,  ho  1(>II  Qn«<l)(M',  iuluiit(  willi  him  ii  .scanty  nIocU  of  n<X!i«»- 
M«rf»'N;  "  for  I  inisi,"  snid  ho,  «•  in  thiit  I'rovidonco  whit'h  lords  (ho  lUUo 
Mhlfi  ol' llu>  air,  and  fhtihos  tho  wild  llowtM's  of  tho  do.srrl  "     U«'  waa 

Jwst  (ho  ni«'ridiaiMd"lifi\  hnl  posNo.sM'd  all  tho  /,(«al  of  youth.  Ho  wont 
orlh  with  (ho  orosoniiniont  tiial  lie  was  porliMininK  I'i^  layl  joiirnoy,  for, 
in  writing  ha(<K  to  a  tViond,  ho  loinarkod;  "  In  thro<'  or  four  months  you 
niny  add  my  iiauio  to  tin.'  nionn-ttio  of  doalhs."  Havinjc  arrived  .11  U10 
Sunt,  ho  jmu'(<odod  (0  coast  alon!j;thc  sonlhorn  shore  in  a  canoo,  and  on 
llio  \M\\  i>f  ()c(ohcr  reached  ilio  head  of  Kowconaw  hay,  which  lio 
nnnird  J^t.  Theresa  tho  day  of  his  arrival  !)eini!;  (ho  anniversary  <lny  of 
thut  ptntn  saint.  Hero  horeinjrined  niilil  tho  foMowiny;  sjn'infs'j  wlioti  he 
loH,  acroinpanieil  by  a  single  Indian,  for  (.''luuinaniegon  hay,  nour  tho 
hoiul  id" tho  lake.  'I'liey  took  tho  routo  through  I'ortago  iako;  and  while 
\iw  voyaufonr  was  convryingllu*  canoo  across  (ho.  ]iortai'e,thognod  I''ntlier 
wnndoroil  in(o  tho  woods,  ami  lu)  lraot>  of  him  was  allorwnrds  obtained. 
This  liapponod  August 'iO,  l()(")l.  Tho  world  applaiuLs  tho  heroism  of 
Oohimbns  who  hninchod  out  ni>on  a  trackless  (mmihii  in  soaroh  of  n  new 
world.  Tho  humble  misjion.iry  who,  committing  himsoU  to  tho  guidance 
of  savage  attendants,  voyagoil  for  days  with  a  boundless  wnsto  of  waten 
on  ono  side,  and  ow  "tho  other  an  inibnikou  wildornoss,  showed  n  degree 
of  oountgo  and  onthnsiasm  which  has  rarely  boon  rivalled,  and  wliich 
ougltt  to  n>sono  his  name  from  (d)livion. 

I'laudo  Alloiicz  Ibllowod  in  his  footsteps.  On  tho  8th  of  August,  1666, 
he  oiulnukeil  at  Three  Rivers,  »ocompiu>icd  by  four  hundred  Indians, 


■i 


MIpQ'IIqM' 


ii 


In  (iSanl,V 

tlinUHMMl 

ririK  tli«m 
;hi)>|>rwM 

li    tlKMII   to 
(liny  mimI, 

It'll  l>v  tll«i 
Imr  Idimn 

lilN   wn*  • 
iikI)  which 

itid  iiKlotn- 
Nvllii'll   liM 

Mill  tHn  in- 
Hi(iil*li»liiiig 
i^pt'iktnl  fiK- 
riir  lollow- 
( hlnlMir  U*J, 
I.  l.iiwnniMJ 
I  HitoTdH  nittl 
\  most  i^iM>- 
i  coiniiiitUMl 
{)  vi(nnily«f 
0  of  \\i»  ior 

\]w  'iHth  of 
(.{(  of  uocm- 
ih  tlio  litllo 
lie  was 
llr  \vm\t 
l«ui'ii<!y,  for, 
nioml>H  you 
vivcd  ai  tlt« 
lUH',  and  on 
,   wliioli   lie 
isiWy  <lny  of 
ijif,  wlion  he 
,y,  unur  Iho 
>;  i\iid  whiitt 
fvnod  l-'nllicr 
(is  (ihtniued. 
0  heroism  of 
T.h  of  a  now 
tlio  guiilwice 
isUi  ol"  watuTB 
\vo(l  a  dcgre* 
,  and  wliich 

liigust,  1666, 
red  Indians, 


»• 


wild  worn  oil  ilioir  rutiirn  Troiii  Uiioboc.  Lu  iIm  Iwglutiiutf  n(  ^4«l|)t«tl^bor 
liu  tirhvad  ni  Uui  •Siiut.  niid  tiiiUirtd  Lukv  l^u|i«ri'>r/*wliirli,"  mud  Uj« 
ii(iMnl  iiiiNMioiiuiy,  '*»liull  li(iii<'.i;forili  Iwar  (lio  uuiiie  of  M.  du  TMcy,  in 
loUtiii  of  tliu  *ll)li^uliollN  Ui(i  i)eo|il(!  of  tUi«  roKioii  aro  uiuUit  to  hiin^"  uud 
lliiH  i«  tliM  iir....o  iiopliod  lo  il  uit  llio  ourliost  iitap.  t^.  it. 

"'t'liii  MuvuKON,  liu  C4iiainu«««,  ''roNpc'cl  ilii»  uiktimin(livlniiy,aii<l  i>{rnr 
Hurritl'Oh  |o  il  lior/iUMu  of  it<4  Ni/j;,  for  It  in  two  tiuiidrud  luagiici  lont^  itiid 
itl«lily  liromi,  and  uIno  tit  i:oinif»|iinucu  of  itM  fiiriiintiiii)^  tloMu  wiili  fi>tli, 
upon  wliii;li  all  llir  nalivoM  live  wlion  litiniin^  ia  p'  "co  in  iIimhi:  i\'vtrU:rn. 
"  *  '  Il  liiipiM'ON  fn)<|U(iiill''  iliat  piocui.'i  of  cop  .ru  i*)iiud;  woi^liing 
Iront  Urn  to  iw«)iily  |hmiim1h.  1  itavo  nuoii  «ovur;  id  pircnn  in  tlifi 
handit  of  NiuaKos;  and  niiico  tliuy  uru  vory  HiitK-i  njn.  ilioy  nnitiuut 
liioni  UN  diviiiKioN,  or  uh  proNnntM  givon  U)  tliuin  to  |  'loto  lIxMr  lianpi- 
nuNM  by  lliu  K"*''^  wIio  dwoll  JHiiiuutli  iho  wutor.  i'trUiiN  roaHon  tlioy 
promtrvi)  llio^o  pircuM  of  coj>|K)t'  wiap(M)(l  up  witli  tiiMir  iiiomI  prociouM 
ailicloH,  In  honio  iiiinilioM  tliuy  liuvu  Utwi  liupt  Ibr  tiioru  tliuii  fittv  yoa^; 
in  otli«ri4,  llioy  liavo  ditNt'.uiidoujVom  tiiiii;  oiti  of  mind  Ucini^  awtiHlnni 
«N  (JonioNlic.  inod.'!,  -, 'Ht'J^    •.■9«< 

"tNifHoiiin  tiiiin  tliorn  wan  Rncn  notr  tlio  NJioro  ii  largo  r«)r:li  of  co|i[icr 
Willi  iu  top  miwu;  above  llin  wutor,  wliidi  unvu  an  opijori unity  to  tJion*! 
paRHing  by  to  nil  picct;^  from  it;  but  wlion  1  paNvcd  tlnil  vicinity  it  liml 
di,siipp(!Ui'i!(|.  I  bolicv*!  tiiul  tlio  KaloM  wliich  un;  hero  frr!i|iiont,  liko  Uiomo 
of  th«!  sou,  had  <-ov(:r(Mi  it  with  KUtid.  Uiir  HUvaguN  trii^-.d  to  purfiiado  mo 
thut  it  wan  a  divinity  who  liiid  diNUppourod;  but  for  what  cauMo  ihity  wuro 
iinwilliii;*:  to  t<!li."*  llo  puNKcd  tha  buy  rullod  by  I'athor  Monnurd  Ht. 
Tlu'i(!J(a,  whoro  ho  mot  "two  Chrisitian  widiuoii,  v/ilneshcx  of  \i\h  (Men- 
nard's)  laboiN,  who  had  pruNinvud  thoir  luilh,  and  sparkbui  like  iwo  htarn 
in  tilcniidHt  of  tho  darknu»N  ol  infidttlily.  Having  rufnjhhed  thoir  mt;mo- 
rioN  with  ouk  inyMtorios,  wo  procucdud  on.  Aflor  having  truvollcd  ono 
hundrud  and  oigtily  loagiioH  along  tlio  bordor  of  the  biko^on  th<j  southern 
Nido,  whoi'u  tlio  liiird  hath  (*fton  triud  our  patiuiKM)  by  iiioan»  of  galoM, 
fumino,  and  faiigiio,  both  day  luid  night" — mnny  a  \Hiot  voyagonr  hiiH 
.sincu  ntlorud  tlio  saoio  compluintN — "wo  landod  on  th</  lHt<»f  (?<;tobor  at 
(Jhaiiuaincgoii."  'i'liis  in  tbo  old  La  i'ointo  of  the  voyagoiirM,  ilu  do- 
t<cribf!N  il  an  a  bcnitif'til  bay,  on  whoso  margin  dwelt  niimeroiiM  i-avuges: 
their  warricMN  anionnting  to  eight  hundred.  Ilf-rt;  he  pauNod  in  his  wan- 
deringH,  erected  u  ebiipel,  and  cotnmoneed  the  work  of  winning  the 
savagoH  to  the  N»;o:;lanl  of  the  cro«8.  Jle  fitiiiid  that  the  (/hippewa.s  were 
mcdiluting  a  Wiililvo  expedition  aguiii.st  their  ancient  enemies,  the  Hion;t. 
He  was  periiiitlod  to  advise,  and  succeeded  in  divcnling  them  fiom  the 
enterprise.  Here  he  dwelt  for  two  years.  Ilin  fiune  reached  the  snr- 
rounding  tribes,  who  gathered  around  to  satisfy  their  curiosit/ and  receive 
the  benefit  of  bis  instruction.  During  this  {Ksriod  he  visited  i'ond-du  Luc, 
whore  he  met  with  some  of  the  Sioux,  who  informed  him  of  a  country 
to  tho  west  abounding  in  pruirien,  over  which  roamed  the  bufl'alo,  und 
thut  there  was  u  great  river  culled  iVIessopi,  (Mississippi,)  whose  banks 
were  inhabited  by  the  beaver.  He  extended  also  his  mission  among  the 
NipissirinienH,  on  the  north  sliore  of  the  luke. 

In  the  fall  of  l(U)7  ho  returned  to  Q,uebcc  to  procure  aid  in  establishing 
missions  in  the  Northwest;  and  such  was  his  ardor,  that  in  two  days  after 
his  arrival  he  was  on  his  way  back  lo  his  forest  homo. 

•Chmlcvoix,  in  his  Truvcl*,  hnn  npjiiopriale'J  ulmoat  vcr'oBtim  Ailoa'z'n  dtucriplion. 


a(-iir^s-;r-v' T"  "" 


6 


t)6e.  No.  60. 


?:'f 


In  1668  Claudft  Dablon  and  James  Marquette  proceeded  to  Satit  Ste, 
Marie  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  permanent  mission.  Of  the  per* 
flonal  history  of  the  formeriittle  is  known,  but  the  latter  was  in  the  prime 
of  life,  highly  educated,  and  fitted  to  adorn  the  court  of  Louis;  but  ho 
sacrificed  all  of  these  advantages,  and  passed  his  life  among  a  race  com« 
paratively  low  in  the  scale  of  intellectual  organization.  From  this  period 
Saut  Ste.  Marie  dates  its  settlement;  and  it  is  therefore,  as  Bancroft  re- 
marks, the  oldest  within  the  limits  of  the  State  of  Michigan. 

The  following  year  Marquette  succeeded  Alloiiez  at  La  Pointe,  and  the 
latter  removed  to  Green  Bay. 

In  May,  1671,  a  grand  council  assembled  at  Saut  Ste.  Marie.  The 
chiefs  from  fourteen  of  the  tribes  of  the  Northwest  and  the  soldiers  of 
France  sat  in  council  together.  Mr.  Tallon,  then  governor  general  of^ 
New  France,  had  sent  there  Monsieur  dp  St.  Lusson  to  take  possession, 
in  the  name  of  his  Majesty,  of  all  lands  lying  between  the  east  and  west, 
and  from  Montreal  to  the- South  sea,  as  far  as  it  could  be  done.  When 
assembled,  the  ambassador  selected  a  hill  above  the  village,  planted  the 
cross,  and  raised  the  arms  of  the  King.  The  cross  was  first  blessed  with 
all  the  ceremonies  of  the  Church  by  the  Superior  of  the  missions;  and 
while  it  was  being  raised,  the  Vexilla  was  chanted  by  the  assembled 
Frenchmen,  to  the  great  admiration  of  the  savages.  The  shield  of  France 
was  suspended  from  a  cedar  post  above  the  cross  while  they  were  chant- 
ing the  Exaudiat,  and  prayers  were  offered  for  the  sacred  person  of , his 
Majesty.  St.  Lusson  formally  took  possession  of  the  landjs;  after  which 
guns  were  discharged,  and  other  manifestations  of  joy  exhibited.  Father 
Alloiiez  was  present,  mindful  of  the  interests  of  his  divine  as  well  as  tem- 

Sral  master.*  The  same  year  Marquette  removed  to  St.  Ignace,  north  of 
ackinac.  Here  he  built  a  chapel,  and  gathered  about  him  the  wander- 
ing Hurons.  Marquette  and  Dablon  made  numerous  excursions  to  the 
tribes  which  dwelt  in  the  territory  now  embraced  in  northern  Illinois  and 
eastern  Wisconsin.  Marquette,  like  Alloiiez,  had  heard  marvellous  ac- 
counts of  the  region  beyond  the  Great  Lake,  and  longed  to  explore  it;  but 
it  was  not  until  the  year  1673  that  he  was  enabled  to  carry  his  project 
into  execution.     His  route  lay  up  the  Fox  river,  through  Lake  Winne- 


,    M 


N 


I 


'Alloiiez  pronounced  the  following  panegyric  on  the  King,  which  is  worthy  or  being  pre- 
served : 

"It  18  a  moat  important  affair  which  calls  us  together.  Cast  your  eyes  on  that  cross,  which  is  so 
high  above  yoiir  heads.  'Tis  there  where  the  Son  of  God  was  willing  to  be  attached  and  to  die, 
in  order  to  satisfy  Hie  eternal  Father  for  your  Bins.  He  is  the  master  of  our  lives,  and  also  of 
henven,  and  earth,  and  hell.  I*  is  He  of  whom  1  have  so  often  spoken,  and  whose  name  and 
word  1  have  borne  into  these  dietant  lands.  But, at  th,e  same  time,  look  upon  that  other  column, 
to  which  arc  attached  the  arms  of  that  great  chief  of  France,  whom  we  call  King.  He  lives  be- 
yond the  tea.  He  is  the  chief  of  chiefs,  and  hosnot  his  like  in  the  world.  All  the  chiefs  whom 
you  have  seen,  and  of  whom  you  have  heard,  are  but  children  compared  with  him.  He  is  like 
a  great  trte,  while  they  are  mere  shrubs  which  wc  tread  upon.  You  know  Onnontio,  (governor 
general,)  the  renowned  chief  of  Q,u^btc.  You  know  tht>t  lie  is  the  terror  of  the  Iroquois,  and 
that  his  name  is  sufficient  to  make  them  tremble,  einee  he  has  desolated  their  lands,  and  earned 
.iire  among  their  settlements.  There  are  beyond  the  scq  ten  thuusand  Onnontios  like  him,  who 
are  but  warriors  of  that  great  chief,  our  King,  of  whom  I  fpeak.  When  he  says  '  I  go  to  war,' 
everybody  obeys,  aijid  these  ten  thousand  chiefs  raise  bands  ot  warriors  both  for  the  land  and  for 
the  sea.  Some  embark  in  ships,  like  those  you  have  seen  at  QLuebec.  Your  canoe  will  hold 
but.  four  or  five  men — twelve  to  the  utraoKt.  Our  vessels  carry  four  and  five  hundred,  and  even 
a  thouftand.  Another  portion  go  to  war  on  land,  but  in  such  numbers  ihht,  when  arranged  in 
double  ranks,  they  would  reach  to  Mississaquenk,  which  is  twenty  leagues  from  here.  When 
hs  attacks,  he  is  wore  fearful  than  thunder.    The  earth  trembles,  and  the  air  and  the  sea  are  on 


]9iie«']Wr>.  ##i 


oi^ 


1>iiffo,  and  thfliKifl  down  the  Wisottisin  into  the  Mmissiyrpi.  In  iht«i  ex- 
pedition he  was  accompanied  by  Joylet,  a  courtier  of  France.  They  del 
wended  the  mighty  current  as  far  as  Arkansas,  and  then  turned  htKik. 
They  represented  that  they  were  hospitably  entertained  by  thu  lllrnois^ 
who  dwelt  upon  its  banks,  while  by  other  ♦ribes  they  were  repulsed. 

This  relation  of  the  voyage  of  Marquette  was  not  published  until  soma 
time  after  his  death,  and  by  some  it  is  regarded  as  tabulous;  but  Bancroft 
is  disposed  to  adopt  it  as  worthy  of  entire  credence. 

Late  in  the  season  the  voyageurs  reached  Chicago.  Joylet  hastened  t<i 
Quebec  to  announce  the  results  of  their  discoveries,  while  Marquette  re* 
mained  to  plant  the  standard  of  the  cross  among  the  Miarnies. 

The  manner  of  his  death  is  thus  narrated  by  Bancroft:  <<In  sailing 
from  Chicago  to  Mackinac  during  the  following  spriog,  he  entered  a  little 
river  in  Michigan.  Erecting  an  altar,  he  said  mass  after  the  rites  of  the 
Catholic  church;  then,  begging  the  men  who  conducted  his  canoe  to 
leave  him  alone  for  half  an  hour,  • .  -        •.-.-; 


t\  -     !(.  ."^..^fiU 


•  In  the  ''arkling  wno  I, 
Amid  the  cool  and  silnicc,  he  knelt  d<<wn. 
And  offered  to  the  Mi'hiieat  solemn  tliankit, 
And  aupplication.* 


■i   a 


le  sea  are  on 


At  the  end  of  half  an  hour  they  went  to  seek  him,  and  he  was  no  more. 
The  good  missionary,  discoverer  of  a  world,  had  fallen  jsleepouthe 
margin  of  a  stream  that  bears  his  name.  ^I'ear  the  mouth,  the  voyageurs 
dug  his  grave  in  the  sand."*    This  event  happened  May  18,  1676. 

AlloiJez  died  soon  after  in  the  midst  of  his  labors  among  the  Miarnies. 

The  Jesuits  made  a  map  of  this  region  as  early  as  1601),  which  was 
published  in  1672.  We  suspect  that  it  is  the  work  of  Alloiiez  and  Mar- 
ruette,  but  it  bears  no  name.  Uablon  thus  speaks  of  it:  "It  was  got  up 
by  two  Fathers,  very  intelligent  and  observing,  who  did  not  wish  to  in- 
corporate "anything  except  what  they  had  seen  with  their  own  eyes. 
That  is  the  reason  why  they  have  only  inserted  the  up{)er  part  of  Lakes 
Huron  and  Illinois,  although  they  have  coasted  much  on  both." 

When  it  is  considered  that  thcsu  men  wore  not  engineers,  and  that  to 
note  the  geographical  features  of  tlie  country  fi^rmed  no  part  of  their  re- 
quirements, this  map  may,  for  that  age,  be  regarded  as  a  remarkable 
production,  although  points  occasionally  are  laid  down  half  a  degree 
from  their  true  position.  The  whole  coast,  sixteen  hundred  nijles  in  ex- 
tent, as  well  as  the  islands,  were  cx|>lored.  Even  Caribou,  a  low  island 
in  the  midst  of  the  lake,  and  not  visible  except  within  a  few  leagues,  did 
not  escape  their  observation. 

'fire from  the  dischargee  of  hin  cannon,  tie  has  been  seen  in  the  midst  of  hia  squaiironA  covered 
with  the  blood  of  his  enemiex  ;  an  many  of  whom  has  he  put  to  the  aword,  (hat  he  docs  not 
number  their  scalps,  but  merely  the  rivers  of  blood  which  he  has  caused  to  flow.  He  carries 
such  a  number  of  capives  with  him  thnt  he  does  not  value  them,  but  letH  them  go  where  they 
please,  to  show  that  he  does  not  fear  them.  Nobody  dare  make  wur  on  him.  Ail  nniions  be- 
yond the  sea  have  sued  for  peace  with  ^reat  submission.  TJiey  come  fhim  every  quarter  of  th« 
globe  to  listen  to  him  and  admire  him.  It  is  he  who  decitic^'i  upon  the  alTairR  of  the  world. 
What  shall  I  say  of  hia  riches?  You  think  yourselves  very  rich  when  you  have  ten  urtwelvesacka 
of  corn,  and  hatchet.s,  and  kettles,  and  other  things  of  the  kind.  He  hus  more  cities  than  you 
have  men,  which  are  scattertd  over  a  spnce  of  more  than  five  liundr»'d  leagues.  In  etch  city 
there  are  shops  containing  httchets  enough  to  cut  all  your  wood,  ketilcs  encush  to  cnok  ul'  your 
caribou,  a»;d  sn^ar  enoug-h  to  fill  all  your  wigwams.  His  hou.se  extends  further  than  from 
here  to  the  Saut,  is  bii^her  than  the  lullest  of  your  trees,  and  contains  more  people  than  ho 
largest  of  your  settlements  ever  contained." 

♦History  of  the  United  States,  volume  I.         ■        <      ■    :       -v"     • 


10 


Boc.  No.  69. 


I 


Alloiiez,  Marquette,  and  Jogues  weie  remarkable  men,  and,  had  their 
lots  been  cast  in  a  different  sphere,  they  would  have  left  a  more  durable 
impress  upon  tlie  age  iu  which  they  lived.  Their  efforts  to  win  the  tribes 
of  the  Northwest  to  the  standard  of  tlie  cross,  prosecuted  with  great  zeal, 
and  under  circuinstaaces  of  privation  and  suffering,  may  be  regarded  as 
abortive. 

!•  There  is  something  impressive  in  the  rites  of  the  Catholic  church — 
something  in  its  mysteries  calculated^  to  overawe  the  wild  inea  of  the 
woods.  So  long  as  the  missiontuy  was  in  their  midst  and  superhitended 
their  labors,  they  yielded  to  his  gnidance  and  adopted  his  reconimendja- 
tions,  so  far  at  least  as  conduced  to  tlieir  comfort;  but  when  he  withdrew, 
with  equal  facility  they  glided  into  their  former  habits.  The  superstruc- 
ture raised  with  so  mucli  care  fell  to  the  ground  the  moment  the  sus- 
taining hand  was  withdrawn.  The  effect  of  the  contact  of  the  two  races 
has  been  to  afford  the  Indian  additional  incentives  to  vice,  while  his  in- 
tellectual and  moral  elevation  has  been  little  advanced;  and  at  this  day, 
it  cannot  be  said  that  he  stands  higher  in  the  scale  of  civ^ilization  than 
when  first  known  by  the  w|iite  man. 

Such  knowledge  as  we  possess  with  regard  to  the  early  discoveries  in 
the  Northwest  is  derived  from  the  "Relations  de  ce  que  s'est  passe  de 
plus  remarquable  aux  Missions  des  peres  de  la  compagiiie  de  Jesus  en  la 
Nouvelle  France."  They  are,  comprised  in  many  volumes,  to  be  found 
in  the  library  of  Harvard  College. 

The  occurrence  of  native  copper  naturally  excited  the  wonder  of  tho 
first  voyageurs,  and  the  references  to  it  are  numerous.  The  first  mention 
is  made  in  the  Relation  for  lt)59-'G0.  An  Indian, .named  Awatanick, 
who  had  passed  from  Green  Bay  to  Lake  Superior  the  year  previously, 
reported  "that  its  borders  were  eniiclied  with  lead  mines,  and  copper  of 
such  excellent  quality  that  it  is  already  reduced  in  pieces  as  large  as  the 
fist.  There  may  also  be  seen  rocks  which  contain  large  vems  of  tur- 
quoise," (green  silicate  of  copper.) 

The  relator  adds  that  he  has  heard  of  the  existence  of  gold  on  St. 
.Joseph's  island,  and  that  the  rivers  of  Lake  Superior  bring  down  grains 
of  gold. 

Anotlier  relator  states  tliat  diamonds  occur  on  some  of  the  islands  at 
the  fiwt  of  Green  Bay. 

In  the  .Relation  for  1009-70,  Father  Dablon  says:  "We  have  learned 
from  (he  savages  some  secrets  wliich  they  did  not  wish  at  first  to  commu- 
nicate, so  that  wc  were  obliged  to  use  some  artifice.  We  do  not,  how- 
ever, vouch  fu'  cvin-ylhiug  contained  in  the  iiillowing  account.  After 
enterijig,  the  lake,  the  first  place  met  with  containing  copper  is  an  island 
about  lorty  or  fifty  leagues  from  the  Saut,  towards*  the  north  shore,  oppo- 
site a  place  called  Missipicooatong,  (Michipicoten.)  The  savages  relate 
that  it  is  a  tloating  island,  beaig  sometimes  near  and  at  others  afar  off.  A 
long  time  ago  four  savages  landed  there,  having  lost  their  way  in  a  fog, 
with  which  the  island  is  frequently  surrounded.  It  was  previous  to  their 
acquaintance  with  the  P^'ench,  and  they  knew  nothing  of  the  use  of  ket- 
tles and  hatcliets.  In  cooking  their  meals,  as  is  usual  among  the  sava- 
ges, by  heating  stones  and  casting  them  into  a  birch  bark  pail  containing 
water,  they  found  that  they  were  almost  all  copper.  After  having  com- 
pleted their  meal,  they  hastened  to  re-embark,  for  they  were  afraid  of  the 
lynxes  and  hares,  which  here  grow  to  the  size  of  dogs.     They  took  with 


"f^,S' 


Pnc.  ^.  .69, 


II 


,  had  their 
re  durable 
ti  the  tribes 
great  zeal, 
egarded  as 

J  church — 
lea  of  the 
lerhitended 

ioiumenda- 
withdrew^ 
superstruc- 
int  the  sus- 
e  two  races 
hile  his  in- 
at  this  day, 
zatiou  than 

scoveries  in  v 
!st  passe  de 
Jesus  en  la 
to  be  found 

nder  of  the 
irst  mention 
Awatanick, 
previously, 
id  copper  of 
large  as  the 
eins  of  tur- 

gold  on  Sti 
own  grains 

le  islands  at 

lave  learned 
to  couimu- 

0  not,  how- 
unt.  After 
is  an  island 
shore,  oppo- 
vages  relate 
afar  off.    A 

-ay  in  a  fog, 

ions  to  their 

use  of  ket- 

ig  the  sava- 

1  containing 
laving  com- 
ifraid  of  the 
jy  took  with 


them  copper  stones  and  jilates,  but  had  hardly  left  the  shore  before  they 
heard  a  loud  voice  exclaiming  in  an  angry  tone,  'Who  are  the  thieves 
that  carry  off  the  cradles  and  the  toys  of  my  children?'  They  were 
very  much  surprised  at  the  sound,  not  knowing  whence  it  came.  One 
said  it  was  the  thunder;  another  that  it  was  a  certain  goblin  called  Missi- 
bizi,  the  spirit  of  the  waters,  like  Neptune  among  the  heathen;  another 
that  it  came  from  the  Memogovissioois,  who  are  marine  men,  living  con- 
stantly under  the  water,  like  the  Tritons  and  Syrens,  having  long  hair, 
reaching  to  the  waist;  and  one  of  the  savages  asserted  that  he  had  ac- 
tually seen  such  a  being.  At  any  rate,  this  extraordinary  voice  produced 
such  fear  that  one  of  them  died  before  landing;  shortly  after,  two  others 
died,  and  one  alone  reached  home,  who,  after  having  related  what  had 
happened,  also  died.  Since  that  time,  the  savages  have  not  dared  ta 
visit  the  island,  or  even  to  steer  in  that  direction."  The  Father  attempts 
to  explain  this  superstition  by  supposing  that  they  were  poisoned  by  using 
the  copper  boulders  in  cooking  their  meat,  and  that  the  supernatural  voice 
was  an  echo  of  their  own,  and  that  the  vanishing  and  reappearance  of 
the  island  was  due  to  fogs  and  haze  which  hang  about  it.  He  concludes 
by  adding  that  it  is  a  common  belief  among  the  savages  that  thu  island 
contains  an  abundance  of  copper,  but  that  no  one  dare  approach  it.  ■ 

"Pushing  along  t )  Le  Grand  Anse,  (Neepigon  bay,)  we  come  to  au 
island  called  'Thunder  island,'  which  is  noted  for  its  abundance  of 
metal.  (This  is  probably  St.  Ignace.)  Further  to  the  west  is  an  island 
called  Menong,  (Isle  Royale,)  celebrated  /or  its  copper.  It  is  large,  being 
twenty-five  leagues  long  and  seven  leagues  distant  from  the  main  land. 
One  bay  at  the  nonheast  extremity  is  particularly  remarkable.  It  is  bound- 
ed by  steep  cliffs  of  clay,  in  which  there  may  be  seen  several  strata  or 
beds  of  red  copper  separated  from  each  other  by  layers  of  earth.  In  the 
water  is  seen  copper  sand,  which  may  be  gathered  with  spoons,  although 
there  are  pieces  as  large  as  acorns.  This  large  island  is  surrounded  by 
several- smaller  ones,  some  of  which  are  said  to  consist  entirely  of  copper. 
One,  especially,  near  the  northeast  corner,  is  within  gunshot  of  the  main 
island.  Further  off  in  that  direction  is  one  called  Manitou-minis,  on  ac- 
count of  the  abundance  of  copper.  It  is  said  by  those  who  have  visited 
it,  that  on  a  stone  being  thrown  against  it,  a  sound  like  that  of  brass 
when  struck  is  heard. 

"After  having  reached  the  extremity  of  the  lake,  there  may  be  seen 
(one  day's  journey)  on  the  south  shore,  by  the  water's  edge,  a  muss  of 
copper  weighing  GOO  or  700  lbs.,  so  hard  that  steel  cannot  cut  it;  but 
when  heated  it  may  be  cut  like  lead." 

On  one  ot  the  islands  near  Chaquamegon  bay,  he  relates  that  copper 
rocks  and  plates  are  found,  and  that  he  bought  of  the  savages  a  plate  of 
pure  copper  two  and  a  half  feet  square,  Aveighing  more  than  100  lbs.  He 
supposes  that  they  have  been  derived  from  Menong,  and  that  their  trans- 
port has  been  effected  either  by  floating  ice  or  by  powerful  winds  from  the 
northeast,  which  have  rolled  them  along  the  bottom  of  the  lake. 

He  mentions  the  fact  that  the  Ottawa  squaws,  in  digging  holes  in  the 
sand  to  hide  their  corn,  often  find  masses  weighing  20  or  30  lbs.  "Near 
the  river  Nantonagon  (Ontonagon)  may  be  seen  a  bluff,  from  which 
stones  of  red  copper  fall  down  into  the  water.  Three  years  since  we  were 
presented  with  a  piece  from  that  locality  weighing  100  lbs.  '  We  have  cut 
some  pieces  from  it,  and  sent  them  to  Talon,  at  Ciuebec.     The  savages  do 


M 


jkt.ito.ei! 


not  all  agree  as  to  the  place  whence  it  is  derived.  Some  say  tha^  it  is 
where  the  river  begins;  others,  that  it  is  close  to  the  lake,  in  the  clay  j  and 
oiheni)  at  the*  forks,  and  ali^ng  the  eastern  branch  of  the  river. 
'  "Further on  is  found  the  long  spit,  (Keweenaw  Point,)  which  we  hiave 
coQipered  to  the  arrow  of  the  bow.  At  its  extremity  is  an  island  six  feet 
square,  which  is  said  to  be  entirely  of  copper.  Finally,  to  complete  this 
surrey  of  the  Great  Lake,  we  would  add,  that  it  is  stated  that  mines  pf 
the  said  metal  are  found  in  several  places  to  the  south.  All  these  cir« 
ciinAstances,  together  with  others  which  it  is  not  necessary  to  mention^,  are 
deserving  of  an  attentive  examination.  We  would  also  mention  an  oxide 
of  copper,  which  is  snid  to  come  from  the  crevices  of  certain  rocks,  (Pic- 
tUi^  Rocks,)  and  the  occurrence  of  certain  pebbles  along  the  shore, 
Which  are  somewhat  soft  and  of  an  agreeable  green  color.  If  God  pros. 
pert  our  undertaking  we  shall  speak  about  it  next  year  with  more  knowl* 
edge  and  certitude.'' 

Hennepin  and  L'Hontan  passed  through  the  lower  lakes,  but  di^  not 
enter  Lake  Superior.  .  "   :  7  '■] 

Charlevoix,  whose  voyage  was  published  at  Paris  in  1744,  passed 
through  the  great  chain,  and  his  observations  are  well  worthy  of  perusal. 
He  mentions  that  pieces  of  copper  occur  on  the  islands  of  Lake  Superior, 
and  that  he  knew  a  brother  of  the  order,  a  goldsmith  by  trade,  whoj 
while  on  amission  at  Saut  Ste.  Marie,  had  made  chandeliers,  crosses,  and 
-censors  of  it.  -        . 

Shortly  before  the  trenty'of  Paris,  in  1763,  by  which  the  whole  of  this 
territory  was  ceded  to  the  British  Crown,  Alexander  Henry,  an  English^ 
man,  visited  Mackinac  for  the  purposes  of  trade.  At  that  time  the 
Indians  regarded  the  English  as  intruders,  and  entertained  towards  them 
hostile  feelings.  Henry  was  among  the  few  who  escaped  the  massacre  at 
old  Fort  Mackinac,  and  owed  the  presefvation  of  his  life  to  the  offices  of 
a  friendly  Indian,  who  contrived  to  convey  hira  to  the  northern  shore  of 
Michigan,  whence  he  made  his  way  to  Sant  Ste.  Marie.  In  1771  he  su- 
j|ieiintended  a  mining  enterprise  in  the  vicinity  of  the  forks  of  the  Onton- 
agon river,  near  the  site  of  the  copper  rock.  ", 

Their  workings  were  prosecuted  in  the  clay  bluffs  which  line  the  banks 
of  the  stream,  and  the  miners  during  the  winter  perforated  the  hill  to  the 
distance  of  forty  feet.  Having  neglected  to  secure  their  work  with  sup- 
ports, on  the  approach  of  spring  the  earth  caved  in  and  destroyed  their 
drift.  A  boat-load  of  provisions  was  sent  to  the  miners  from  the  Saut, 
but,  much  to  the  surprise  of  Henry,  when  it  returned  on  the  20th  of  June, 
he  found  the  whole  establishment  of  miners 'aboard.  It  is  not  surprising 
that  explorations  so  ill-directed  and  visionary  should  prove  abortive;  and 
yet  the  miners  represented  that,  in  the  progress  of  the  work,  they  frequent- 
ly met  with  considerable  masses  of  native  copper,  and  believed  that  they 
would  ultimately  have  reached  a  large  body  of  that  metal. 
'"  In  the  month  of  August,  1772,  the  mining  force  was  transferred  to  a 
vein  on  the  north  shore.  Little  was  done  during  the  winter,  but  before 
the  close  of  autumn  the  miners  had  penetrated  thirty  feet  into  the  solid 
rock.  The  vein,  which  at  the  beginning  was  four  feet  in  breadth,  had, 
in  the  bottom  of  the  shaft,  contracted  to  four  inches.  Under  these  dis- 
Qoui-agitig  circumstances,  further  mining  operations' wore  abandoned. 


ton. 


iy^.^^. 


'4 

.■Jt-<.-: 


Obc.  Ao.  fl9j 


» 


'  thaV  H  19 
le  clay;  and 

jH  we  have 
ind  six  feet 
mplete  this 
t  mines  pf 
I  these  cif' 
lention^  are 
)n  an  oxide 
ocks,  (Pic- 
the  shore, 
■  God  pros- 
loie  knpwl- 


lUt 


not 


44,  passed 
of  perusal. 
:e  Superior, 
rade,  whoi 
crosses,  and 

hole  of  this 
m  English, 
it  time  the 
wards  them 
massacre  at 
le  ofl&ces  of 
rn  shore  of 
771  he  su- 
the  Onton- 

e  the  banks 

hill  lo  the 

with  sup- 

eyed  their 

the  Saut, 

)thof  June, 

t  surprising 

ortive;  and 

jy  frequent- 

d  that  they 

ferred  to  a 
but  before 
i  the  solid 

eadth,  had, 
these  dis- 

doned.    ■    , 


i 

1 


Henty  cpi^cludes,  from  the  results  of  his  unsuccessful  experirpent  in 
mipirt  :at  the  copper  can  never  be  profitably  mined,  except  for  local 
consur  m,  and  that  the  country  must  be  cultivated  and  peopled  before, 
this  cb^i  suke  place.  He  remarks,  it  was  in  the  hopes  of  find,ing  silye;^  u» 
snfficient  abundance  to  make  the  speculation  profitable,  that  the  worksP 
were  commenced.  He  speaks  of  the  discovery  of  this  metal  in  only  one 
place,  Pointe  aux  Iroquois,  where,  according  to  his  authorityi  a  Mr.;^pr-. 
burg,  a  Russian  gentleman,  acquainted  with  metals,  discovered!  a  bluer 
stone  of  eight  pounds'  weight,  which  was  sent  to  Euglan^'ftnd  fi^und  ttt^ 
contain  sixly  per  cent,  of  silver. 

None  of  the  early  explorers  seem  tc  have  noticed  the  existence  of  metal- 
lic silver  associated  with  the  copper,  although  we  know  that,  among  the 
nunteraus  masses  of  copper  which  have  been  picked  up  on  the  shores  of 
the  lake,  some  have  contained  a  considerable  quantity  of  silver  interspecsfi^ 
throiigh  them.  > ., 

In  1819,  General  Cass,  under  the  authority  of  the  Secretary  of  W«r»' 
directed  an  exploring  expedition,  which  passed  along  the  southern  shores 
of  Lake  Superior,  and  crossed  over  to  the  Mississippi.  This  expedition 
had  am'oflgits  principal  objects  that  of  investigating  the  northwestern  copper 
mines,  and  was  accompanied  by  Mr.  H.  R.  Schoolcraft,  in  the  capacity  of 
itiineralogist  and  geologist.  His  observations  are  recorded  in  his  "Narra- 
tive Journal  of  Travels  from  Detroit  northwest,  &c.,"  published  in  1821. 

In  the  spring  of  1823,  Major  Lqng,  actingunder  the  orders  of  the  War  De- 
partment, and  accompanied,  by  several  scientific  gen  tlemen ,  started  ou  an  ex- 
pedition, the  object  of  which  was  to  explore  the  river  St.  Peter's  and  the- 
counUry  situated  on  tlie  northern  boundary  of  the  United  States,  betweea< 
the  Red  river  of  Hudson's  bay  and  Lake  Superior.    In  returning,  they 
coasted  along  the  north  shore  of  tliis  lake.     Professor  Keating,  in  bisuar-' 
ration  of  the  expedition,  remarks  that  they  had  seen  native  copper  (boul- 
ders) strewed  in  many  directions  over  the  great  valley  drained  by  the; 
Mississippi  and  its  tributaries. 

All  the  early  explorers  seem  to  agree  in  the  opinion,  that  if  deposites  of 
coj^r  should  be  aiscovered  in  this  region,  yet,  so  great  is  its  distance 
from  a  market,  and  so  wild  aud  unsettled  the  character  of  the  country^ 
that  there  would  be  no  hope  of  their  being  profitably  worked-rf^  ^98t 
lor  many  years  to  come.  s  V     •. 

The  attention  of  the  government  was  called  to  the  mineral  resources  of 
the  Noithwest  during  the  presidency  of  the  elder  4dams,  and  a  commis- 
sion was  instituted  with  the  view  of  exploring  this  region;  but  we  have 
been  unable  to  ascertain  why  nothing  further  was  done  in  this  matter. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things  up  to  the  time  when  Dr.  Douglass  HQ^gh-: 
ton,  State  geologiist  of  Michigan,  in  the  prosecution  of  his  labors,  ooiu- 
menced  the  exploration  of  the  northern  peninsula,  aiid  by  his  official  le- . 
ports  awakened  attention  to  this  distant  region.    In  his  annual  report,  pre- 
sented to  the  legislature  of  Michigan,  February  1, 1841,  the  great  featiirei*  of 
the  country  were  sketched  with  a  masterly  hand,  and  the  first  definite  in* 
formation  with  regard  to  the  occurrence  of  the  deposites  of  native  copper 
in  the  rocks  was  laid  before  the  world.    After  this  preliminary  reconnab- . 
since  of  the  country.  Dr.  Houghton  entered  into  a  contract  witlr  ihei 
United  States  government  to  execute  the  linear  survey  of  the  northem 
peninsula  in  connexion  with  a  geological  survey,  according  to  the  ^y^teiai 
devised  by  him  in  connexion  with  Wm.  A.  Burt,  esq.    Dr.  Houghton 


n 


a&c.  Wo.  Vb: 


hkd,  in  the  prosecution  of  the  State  geological  survey  over  the  extensive 
territory  of  the  southern  peninsula,  found  how  great  an  amount  of  labor 
and  how  large  a  corps  of  geologists  would  be  required,  were  the  whble 
^nnd  to  be  gone  over  by  the  geological  parties,  and  had  availed  him- 
self of  all  the  information  which  could  be  obtained  from  the  linear  sur- 
veyors who  had  directed  the  United  States  surveys  in  various  sections  of 
the  Stste.  He  had  engaged  them  to  notice  th3  rocks  which  they  should 
ctoss  with  their  lines,  and,  if  practicable,  to  procure  specimens  of  them, 
do  that  he  ml^t  thus  obtain  a  general  idea  of  a  region  which  he  ha« 
neither  time  nor  means  to  explore  fully  himself.  In  the  course  of  these 
inquiries  he  received  a  great  amount  of  valuable  information,  especially 
from  Mr.  Burt;  and  he  was  thus  led  gradually  to  the  idea  of  adopting  a 
system '  which  should  connect  the  two  surveys,  so  that  they  might  be 
Executed  under  the  authority  of  one  person,  and  then  a  systematic  ar- 
rangement of  a  great  number  of  observations  be  brought  to  perfection. 
The  survey  of  the  northern  peninsula  was  arranged  on  this  principle. 
The  township  lines  were  to  be  run  by  Mr.  Burl,  or  under  his  super- 
vision, while  the  subdivisions  were  to  be  made  by  other  deputy  sur- 
veyAs — Dr.  Houghton  having  the  especial  control  of  the  whole.  Ail 
rocks  crossed  by  lines  were  to  be  examined,  specimens  taken,  and  the 
exact  locality  noted,  while  at  the  same  time  as  much  information  as  could 
be  obtained  was  to  be  collected  in  relation  to  the  geological  and  topogitipbi- 
eal  features  of  the  country.  The  detailed  arrangements  with  regard  to 
the  collection  of  specimens,  and  the  plan  of  accompanying  the  sur- 
veyors along  the  lines  by  a  special  barometrical  observer,  were  admirable. 
This  system  had  been  fairly  organized,  and  the  field-work  of  one  season 
nearly  completed,  when  his  melancholy  death,  by  drowning,  on  the 
night  of  October  13,  1847,  occurred.  Most  of  the  results  of  his  extended 
personal  observations  were  thus  lost  to  the  world,  and  the  system  was 
gradually  abandoned,  though  for  some  time  the  linear  surveyors  were 
required  to  make  geological  observations;  yet,  as  they  were  not  systematized 
by  any  person  familiar  with  the  science  of  geology,  the  results  were  pever 
laid  before  the  world  in  an  available  form,  although  much  information  of 
value  was  placed  in  the  possession  of  the  department.  ,j  y-.  iyiiiih  jjm. 

Dr.  Houghton  was  a  nian  of  indomitable  energy  and  perseverance,  auiid 
fervently  devoted  to  the  cause  of  science.  Had  he  lived  to  complete  this 
great  work,  he  would  have  erected  an  enduring  monument  to  perpetuate 
his  name.  He  died  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  prematurely  for  the 
cause  of  science,  prematurely  for  his  own  fame. 

The  lands  composing  .the  Lake  Superior  district  were  acquired  by  the 
United  States  by  virtue  of  the  foUowmg  treaties:  / 

1st.  With  the  OttaXvas  and  Chippewas,  concluded  March  28,  18qp — 
ratified  May  27,  1836 — by  which  were  ceded  the  lands  bounded  oii,  the 
north  by  Lake  Superior,  on  the  east  by  the  St.  Mary's  river,  on  the  i^uth 
by  Lake  Michigan,  r^nd  on  the  w(Q§j;  by  tj^e  Escauaba  and  Chouok^ 

2d.  With  the  Monombriees,  cbnckided  September  3, 1836— ratifi6^Feb- 
Tuia'ry  1.5,  1837— by  which  was  ceded  a  tract  bounded  on  the  east  l^y  the 
Escanaba  river,  on  the  south  by  Green  Bay,  on  the  west  by  the  M«>nomo- 
neie  river,  and  on  the  north  by  an  irregular  line  extending  from  th/fe  mouth 
df  the  Brule  to  the  head-waters  of  the  Escanaba.  / 

3d.  With  the  Chippewas  of  the  Mississippi  and  Lake  Sup^ior,  con- 


D0^.  ITo.  6fif . 


thie  extensive 
ount  of  labor 
re  the  wh'ole 
availed  him- 
le  linear  sur- 
is  sections  of 
h  they  should 
lehs  of  them, 
irhich  he  had 
>urse  of  these 
)n,  especially 
of  adopting  a 
ley  might  be 
systematic  ar- 
to  perfection, 
his  principle, 
ler  his  super- 
:  deputy  sur- 
!  whole.  Ail 
ken,  and  the 
alion  as  could 
id  topogi^apbi- 
'ith  regard  to 


ying  the  sur* 
ive  admirable, 
pf  one  season 
ning,  on  the 

his  extended 

system  was 

irveyors  were 

systematized 
ts  were  pever 
Dformatipn  of 

jverance,  and 
complete  this 
to  perpetuate 
urely  for  the 

uired  by  the 

h  28,  18^ 

mded  on.  the 
,  on  the  sputh 
ad  Cho<folate 

-ratified*  Peb- 
e  east  py  the 

.^..-.-.x, 

)m  th^  mouth 


p^; 


up^rior,  con- 


clud«l  October  4,  1842— ratified  March  23,  1843— by  which  was  ceded 
the  remainder  of  the  ilistrict  washed  by  Lake  Superior  bn  the  north,  and 
extending  west  from  Chocolate  to  Montreal  river,  and  sbutherly  to  the; 
boundary  between  Wiwonsin    and   Michigan.     In   this    cession  Isle 

Royale  was  also  included.  ' 

Each  of  these  treaties,  however,  embraced  other  lands  than  those  de- 
scribed. .  • 

Shortly  after  this  last  cession,  applications  were  made  by  individuals  in 
different  parts  of  the  Union  for  permission  to  explore  and  locate  any  tracts' 
supposed  to  contain  valuable  ores.     These  applications  were  granted  bjc 
virtue  of  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  as  far  back  as  1818,  in 
reference  to  the  "lead  lands"  of  Illinois.    The  applicant  in  the  first  in- 
stance was  allowed  to  select  a  tract  of  three  miles  square;  but  this  was' 
subsequently  modified,  limiting  him  to  one  mile  square.    He  was  required ; 
to  make  the  selection  within  one  year,  to  mark  the  confers  thereof,  tO' 
leave  a  person  in  charge  to  point  out  the  bounds)  and  to  transmit  to  the 
proper  department  a  description  and  plat  of  the  same.     On  the  receipt  of 
this  plat  the  applicant  was  entitled  to  a  lease  for  the  term  of  three  years, 
renewable  for  an  additional  term  of  three  years,  provided  Congress  did' 
not  otherwise  direct;  annexed^  to  which  were  certain  conditions:  the  most- 
important  were,  that  the  lessee  should  work  such  mines  with  due  dili- ' 
gience  and  skill,  and  render  to  the  United  States  six  per  cent,  of  alKtho 
ores  raised — to  be  delivered  at  such  points  within  the  district  as  the  latter- 
misrht  indicate.  ^Ui  Buiai,! 

,  The  Committee  on  Public  Lands  of  the  29th  Congress,  2d  seSsslon,  de- 
cided that  the  Department  of  War  had  no  authority  to  grant  leases  of  cop' 
I  per  mines,  and  recommeiided  that  these  tracts  be  surveyad  and  sold. 

On  th%.6th  of  May,  1846,  in  conformity  with  the  decision  of  the  Presi- ' 
dent  of  the  United  States,  the  further  issue  of  permits  was  suspended. 

The  whole  number  of  permits  granted  under  the  authority  of  the  De-' 
partment  of  War  amounted  to  about  one  thousand — nine  hundred  and- 
sixty-one  of  which  were  located.     Sixty  leases  for  tracts  of  three  miles 
square,  and  three  hundred  and  seventeen  for  tracts  of  one  mile  square)^ 
were  perfected ,  and  mining  corripanies  organized  under  them.*  i*^i'> 

At  the  subsequent  session  of  Congress  an  act  was  passed,  entitled  "  Art 
act  to  establish  a  new  land  district,  and  to  provide  for  the  sale  of  mineral 
lands  in  the  Slate  of  Michi^sin,"  approved  March  1,  1847.  wi'i 

By  the  first  section  of  this  act,  all  of  that  portion  of  the  public  lands  ftt'^ 
jthe  State  of  Michigan  lying  north  of  the  boundaries  of  the  Saginaw  and^ 
Grand  river  land  districts  in  the  State,  known  as  the  northern  peninsula,  ' 
wilh  the  islands  in  Lakes  Superior,  Huron,  and  Michigan,  and  in  Green  ' 
bay,  the  Straits  of  Michillimackinac,  and  the  river  St.  Mary's,  within  the^ 
I  jurisdictipn  of  said  State,  was-  included  in  one  land  district,  to  be  called 
the  Lake  Si^perior  land  district. 

The  second  section  provides  that  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  cause  >i 
geological  examination  and  survey  to  be  made  and  reported  to  the  Gom-  < 
missioner  of  the  General  Land  Office;  that  the  President  be  authorized  to  ' 
cause  such  t)f  said  lands  ais  may  contain  copper,  lead,  or  other  valuable 
'  ores  to  be  exposed  to  sale,  first  giving  six  months'  notice  of  the  times  and 
places  of  such  sale  in  eiich  newspapers  of  general  circulation  in  the  severtd 


*  Report  of  D.  R.  McNair,  Jtlineral  Agent ;  Ex.  Doc.  No.  9, 30th  Congreso,  3d  Bessio*.' 


i 


HI 


Doc.  No.  69. 


ii 


States  as  ^  may  ^eem  axitedient,  with  a  brief  description  of  the  land*  t(^ 
be  offored--r-8h9^ing  the  jaumber  and  locality  of  the  mines  known,  the 
practicability  of  discovering  otiiers,  the  quality  of  the  ores,  the  facilities  for 
working  the  rninea,  and  the  means  and  expense  of  transporting  dieir  prO' 
ducts  to  the  principal  markets  of  the  United  States;  and  that  all  of  the 
lands  in  thoi  said  district  not  reported  as  mineral  be  regarded  as  agricol- 
tural. 

'  The  third  section  secures  the  rights  of  those  persons  in  possession  by 
occupancy  under  permits ,  or  leases,  from  the  Secretary  of  War.  The  other 
sections  of  the  act  in  no  way  relate  to  th^  objects  of  thejiUfyeyj  and  a  X)9t 
dtal  of  their  provisions  is  omitted.    i-v-^ro'J  ta  !n>4ia.>/M  if.i.>f  a 'in  'iltii.^ 

From  the  time  of  the  issuing  of  the  permits  the  business  of  rhining  has 
been  prosecuted  with  vigor,  and  in  many  instances  with  success.  The 
day  is  not  distant  when  the  product  of  these  mines  will  supply  the  home 
demand,  and  add  much  to  the  national  wealth.  In  a  busuiess  like  this, 
proverbially  uncertain  the  world  over,  there  have  been  many  failures, 
many  schemes  of  wild  and  extra vagan|  speculation,  and  many  plans  of  ill- 
advised  and  ill-directed  mining,  which  have  resulted  in  the  rum  of  those 
engaged  in  them.  Extravagant  expectations  were  held  out  in  the  com- 
mencement, which  the  mining  experience  of  the  world  declared  could 
never  be  realized. 

These,  .however,  have  passed  away,  and  the  business  has  settled  down 
into  a  regular,  methodical  pursuit,  affording  an  admirable  field  to  the , 
mining  engineer  for  the  display  oi  skill  and  Judgment,  and  yielding  to  the 
adventurers  a  reasonable  return  for  the  capital  invested. 

In  the  spring  of  1847,  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  the  above-recited 
act,  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  appointed  Dr.  Charles  T.  Jackson  to 
execute  the  required  survey.    After  having  spent  two  seasons  in  the 

Srosecution  of  this  work  he  resigned,  and  its  completion  was  confided  to 
[essrs.  J.  W.  Foster  and  J.  D.  Whitney,  the  results  of  whose  observa^ 
tipns  will  be  found  embodied  in  the  subjoined  report. 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  work  they  have  been  aided  by  Messrs.  S.  W. 
Hill  and  £dward  Desor,  as  first  assistants,  by  Mr.  William  Schlatter  as 
draughtsman,  and  Mr.  W.  D.  Whitney  as  botanist. 

The  aid  of  Mr.  Hill  has  been  of  the  most  essential  service.  His  long 
residence  in  the  district  and  his  connexion  with  several  public  surveys  in 
the  Northwest,  had  given  him  opportunities  of  collecting  a  large  fund  of 
information,  which  has  been  cheerfully  contributed  to  this  work.  Hia 
measurements  and  plans  of  the  mines,  his  observations  on  the  phenomena 
of  veins,  his  contributions  to  the  boundaries  of  the  rocks,  as  illustrated  on 
the  accompanying  maps,  and  his  thorough  and  laborious  explorations  during 
his  connexion  with  the  survey,  are  all  gratefully  acknewledged  by  the 
geologists  in  charge. 

The  phenomena  of  the  drift  and  alluvial  deposites  of  this  region  have 
been  ably  investigated  by  Mr.  Desor,  and  the  results  of  his  observations 
will  be  found  embodied,  by  him,  in  that  portion  of  the  work  which  relates 
to  the  superficial  and  transported  materials.  '        • 

His  previous  investigations  of  the  driA  in  i»urallel  latitudes  in  western 
Ekirope,  and  of  glacial  action  as  manifested  in  the  Swiss  Alps,'  and  the 
foinnation  of  shoals  along  the  coast  of  the  Atlantic  as  observed  by  him 
during  his  connexion  with  the  Coast  Survey,  had  qualified  him  to  enter 
upon  this  field  with  every  prospect  of  success. 


we 


'V.V 
>]^.:i 


^oe.  No.  69. 


it 


he  land»  to- 
tnown,  tht 
facilities  for 
g  dieir  pro- 
,t  all  of  th^ 
asagricid- 

«Bession  by 
The  other 
Yf  and  a  re- 
raining  has 
icess.  The 
y  the  home 
ss  like  this, 
ny  failures, 
plans  of  ill- 
iiin  of  those 
in  the  com- 
slared  could 

lettled  down 
field  to  the. 
siding  to  the 

ibove- recited 
Jackson  to 

sons  in  the 
confided  to 
>se  observa* 

jssrs.  S.  W. 
Schlatter  as 

His  long 
surveys  in 
irge  fund  of 
Iwork.  His 
]  phenomena 
lustrated  od 
ions  during 
Iged  by  the 

region  have 
Observations 
(hich  relates 

Jin  western 
Ips,'  and  the 

I*  J   1  ..  I.: 

V6u  uy  mill 

^im  to  enter 


When  it  is  considered  that  the  agrioiltural  capacity  of  a  soil  results 
not  so  much  from  the  decomposition  of  the  subjacent  rocks  as  from  the 
superficial  deposites  strewn  over  the  surface,  which  have  been  derived  in 
most  cases  from  sources  far  remote,  it  will  be  found  that  an  undue  jwom- 
incnce  has  not  been  given  to  this  subject.  Besides,  an  investigation 
into  the  sources  of  these  materials,  and  the  agency  by  which  their  transport 
has  been  effected,  forms  one  of  the  most  interesting  chapters  in  the  phys- 
tccd  history  of  the  earth. 

The  results  of  his  observations  on  the/atmaof  this  region  will  be  com- 
municated hereafter. 

The  execution  of  the  maps  was  confided  to  Mr.  William  Schlatter,  and 
we  do  not  pay  him  an  underserved  compliment  when  we  say  that  he  has 
completed  the  work  wiih  consummate  skill  and  ability.  Much  of  this  work 
has  been  executed  in  the  midst  of  the  forest,  beneath  the  shelter  of  a  tent. 

The  investigations  of  Mr.  W.  D.  Whitney  were  mainly  directed  to  the 
Jlora  of  this  region.     His  remarks  on  the  nature  of  the  forest  trees,  their 
geographical  distribution  and  the<economical  uses  to  which  they  may  be 
applied,  will  be  incoiporated  in  a  subsequent  report. 

Before  concluding  this  introduction  wo  desire  to  return  our  thanks  to 
the  several  captains  of  mines  for  their  hospitality  and  for  the  facilities 
afforded  us  in  mvestigating  the  phenomena  of  veins.  Without  exception, 
we  have  found  them  intelligent  and  ready  to  communicate  all  of  the  in- 
formation in  their  possession. 

To  the  linear  surveyors,  particularly  to  Mr.  John  Burt,  we  desire  U» 
render  our  thanks  for  the  communication  of  valuable  information. ,,  ;,   , 

To  the  late  surveyor  general,  Hon,  Lucius  Lyon,  of  Detroit,  we  also 
desire,  in  a  public  manner,  to  express  our  thanks  for  his  promptness  in 
furnishing  plats,  and  for  other  aid  rendered  in  the  prosecutionof  this  work. 

We  are  fully  aware  that  this  report  is,  in  many  resi^ects,  defective;  such 

as  must  necessarily  result  from  the  investigation  of  a  wild  and  almost 

•  unbroken  wilderness,  with  limited  facilities  at  our  disposal.     We  trust, 

however,  that  we  have  accomplished  something  in  elucidating  its  true 

geological  structure  and  its  vast  mineral  resources. 


\  ■  .'  '  *}     f.  •"■• 

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Doc.  No.  69,\ 


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>*}(.■!•.    •' 


CHAPTER    I.-    'r.1   .^■'■ao,^   ntrr^)  tr^^'v,   ^,;^.;d, 
PHTSICAI.  GEOGRAPHT.  '      :  ,:   vr,*.r.!  <  fl»H  r  f  J^ 

.,,.'■..!■,,   •t.j.tv.-l   ..  .<>■  I 

Boundaries  of  the.  Lake  Superior  land  district. — Extent  of  the  lake.—^ 
.■  Islands. — Harbors. — Bnys. — Coast. — Michiffan. — Extent. — Bays. 
— Islands. — Huron. — Rivers. — Mountains. —  Table  of  heights. 

The  region  which  forms  the  itnmediate  subject  of  this  report  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Lake  Superior,  on  the  east  by  the  St.  Mary's  river,  on 
the  south  by  Lakes  Huron  and  Michigan,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Mon- 
treal and  Menomonee  rivers,  including  the  several  islands  belonging  t6 
the  United  States,  and  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Michigan.  It  is  known 
as  the  Lake  Superior  land  district,  and  contains  an  area  of  16,237  square 
miles.  '  , 

It  is  included  between  latitude  45°  and  49°  north;  and  longitude  83** 
45'  and  90°  33'  west  from  Greenwich.  Its  coast,  more  than  SOO  miles  in 
extent,  is  washed  by  three  of  the  great  North  American  lakes. 

Lake  Superior,  the  largest  expanse  of  fresh  water  on  the  globe,  contains 
33,000  square  miles.  Its  surface  is  elevated,  according  to  Captain  Bay- 
field, of  the  English  Admiralty  survey,  627  feet  above  the  ocean-level, 
while  portions  of  its  bed  are  several  hundred  feet  below;  thus  forming  one 
of  the  deepest  depressions  in  the  surface  of  the  earth,  excluding  those 
portions  covered  by  the  oceanic  waters.  Its  coast  is  1,500  milns  in  extent; 
Its  maximum  length,  from  Gros  Cap  to  Pond-du-Lac,  in  a  direct  line,  is 
355  miles;  its  maximum  breadth,  from  Grand  island  to  Neepigon  bay,  160 
miles. 

The  shape  of  the  lake  is  very  irregular,  its  widest  expansion  being  near 
the  centre,  while  its  extremes  are  contracted.  Its  northern  shore  is  rocky, 
affording  many  bold  headlands,  and  many  deep  and  spacious  bays.  Nu- 
merous groups  of  islets  gird  the  coast,  which  appear  to  be  peaks,  or 
aiguilles,  connecting  with  the  main  rock  far  below. 

Of  the  larger  class  may  be  mentioned  St.  Ignace,  at  the  outlet  of  Nee- 
pigon bay,  f,300  feet  in  height;  and  Pie  island,  at  the  outlet  of  Thunder 
bay,  which  rises  to  the  height  of  850  feet.  They  are  both  composed,  in 
the  main,  of  rocks  of  igneous  origin,  and  present  bold  and  picturesque 
outlines. 

The  southern  coast  is  studded  with  fewer  clusters.  Towards  the  head 
of  the  lake  there  is  a  group  known  as  the  Apostle  islands,  composed  ot 
sandstone,  and  attaining  an  inconsiderable  elevation.  The  channels  be- 
tween them  afford  good  harbors,  accessible  from  every  point.  La  Pointe, 
situated  on  Madaline  island,  is  already  a  place  of  some  commerce. 

Grand  island,  about  midway  between  the  extremes  of  the  lake,  affords 
one  of  the  finest  and  most  beautiful  harbors  in  the  world.  Its  northern 
shore,  where  exposed  to  the  surf,  is  lined  with  high  cliffs  of  sandstone; 
but  the  southern  portion  slopes  gradually  to  the  water's  edge. 

Towards  the  eastern  extremity  are  several  low  islands,  composed  of 
sandstone,  which  are  of  no  great  importance. 

In  addition  to  these  are  two  remarkable  islands  in  the  midst  of  the 


Doc.  No.  69. 


H 


the  lake. — 
it. — Bays, 
'tta. 

is  bonnded 
's  river,  on 
)y  the  Mou- 
>elonging  t6 
It  is  known 
i,237  square 

ngitude  83*> 
SOO  miles  in 

ibe,  contains 
:;aptain  Bay- 
ocean-level, 
;  forming  one 
uding  those 
lis  in  extent; 
direct  line,  is 
gon  bay,  160 

n  being  near 
lore  is  rocky, 
bays.  Nu- 
be  peaks,  or 

utlet  of  Nee- 

of  Thunder 

composed,  in 

picturesque 

rds  the  head 
composed  ot 
channels  be- 
La  Pointe, 
nerce. 

3  lake,  affords 
Its  northern 
of  sandstone; 

composed  oi 

midst  of  the 


kke,  both  of  which  are  due  to  volcanic  action.  These  are  Isle  Royalo 
and  Michipicoten;  the  former  belonging  to  the  United  States,  the  latter  to 
Great  Hritain. 

Isle  Royule  is  situated  in  the  northwestern  part  of  ihe  lake,  being  inter- 
sected near  tl\e  centre  by  the  89th  degree  of  west  longitude,  and  the  48th 
of  north  latit<ide.  Its  course  is  northeast  and  southwest;  its  length 
about  forty-fivo  miles;  its  width  about  eight  miles;  its  area  two  hundred 
and  thirty  square  miles. 

It  is  traversed  by  numerous  parallel  ridges,  running  with  the  course  of 
the  island,  which  nowhere  attain  au  altitude  of  more  than  600  feet  above 
the  lake-level.  At  the  northeast  extremity  they  are  prf>longed  beyond 
the  main  land,  and  resemble  the  fingers  attached  to  the  human  hand. 
These  fingers  afford  safe  and  commodious  harbors.  The  numerous  long 
and  narrow  inlets  which  indent  the  coast  result  from  its  geological  struc- 
ture.  Alternating  bands  of  soft  amygdaloid  and  hard  crystalline  green- 
stone, which  oppose  unequal  resistance  to  the  action  of  the  elements,  have 
contributed  to  form  the  peculiar  outline  of  the  coast.  Powerful  currents, 
at  no  remote  epoch,  swept  over  the  island  in  a  southwesterly  direction, 
which  ground  down  the  softer  beds  and  polished  and  grooved  the  harder, 
to  their  very  summits.  So  tliorough  was  this  process,  and  so  slightly 
haveHhe  harder  materials,  in  the  lapse  of  time,  yielded  to  the  ordinary 
action  of  the  elements,  that  these  grooves  can  be  observed  over  surfaces 
of  great  extent,  sharp  and  well-dofiued.  No  tree  takes  root  upon  these 
polished  surfaces;  the  lichens  even  cannot  find  sustenance.  The  island 
everywhere  presents  a  desolate  appearance.  Barren  rocks;  a  dwarfed 
growth  of  cedars  and  birches,  hung  with  drooping  moss;  abrupt  cliffs, 
impassable  marshes — these  are  the  striking  characteristics.  The  caribou, 
the  lynx,  and  the  rabbit  are  among  the  few  animals  that  roam  over  its 
surface;  the  hawk,  the  owl,  and  the  pigeon  represent  the  feathei-ed  tribe. 
Where  the  igneous  rocks  prevail  we  find  deep  and  spacious  inlets, 
among  which  may  be  mentioned  Washington  harbor  on  the  west,  Todd's 
harbor  and  McCargoe's  cove  on  the  north,  the  deep  recesses  formed  by 
Locke's  point,  Blake's  point,  and  Scovill's  point,  on  the  east,  and  Rock 
harbor,  Chippewa  harbor,  and  Siskawit  bay  on  the  south.  The  southern 
point  of  the  latter  bay,  which  consists  of  sandstone,  is  approachable  from 
the  southeast,  and  also  from  tlw  south,  by  a  narrow  and  intricate  channel. 
It  abounds  in  hidden  reefs,  running  parallel  with  the  main  land. 

The  numerous  ridges  which  traverse  the  island  longitudinally  arc  unt- 
formly  bare  and  pre(?ipitous  on  the  northwest  and  sloping  on  the  southeast. 
!  The  intervals  are  occupied  by  small  lakes,  wet  prairies,  or  cedar  swamps. 
Michipicoten  is  situated  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  lake.  It  is 
eighteen  miles  in  length,  arj^  rises  to  the  height  of  eight  hundred  feet 
above  the  water.  It  is  a  mass  of  gi-eenstone,  and  one  of  the  points 
selected  by  the  Quebec  Company  for  mining  operations. 

In  the  midst  of  the  lake  is  a  remarkable  islet,  known  as  Stannard's  rock, 
[SO  called  in  honor  of  Captain  Charles  C.  Stannard,  by  whom  it  was  dis- 
I  covered  in  1844,  while  sailing  the  brig  Astor. 

It  has  been  erroneously  described  as  an  isolated  peak  or  needle,  shoot- 
ling  up  from  the  bottom  of  the  lake,  and  affording  deep  soundings  on 


1 


\  everv  side.     Such , 


is  not  the  case.     It  rises  about  four  feei 


above  the  wate'-level,  and  exposes  a  surface  of  fifty  feet  in  length  and 
twenty  in  breadth.    During  a  storm  the  waves  sweep  over  it,  but  its  posi- 


^ 


fioc.  Mo.  6ft 


■'111 


i  ■  I 


l:i  ' 


tion  is  indicated  by  a  long  line  of  breakers.  Professor  Mallier,  who  vis- 
ited it  in  1646,  thus  describes  it  iti  some  MS.  notes  communicated  to  ns: 
"A  dangerous  shoal  extends  a  mile  or  more  to  tlie  NNE.  of  the  rock,  and 
anotlier,  as  indicated  by  the  ripple,  to  the  NNVV.  In  approaching  it,  we 
passed  over  numerous  ridges  and  deep  troughs  between — the  rocky  bot- 
tom plainly  in  view  from'ten  to  fifteen  and  twenty  feet  below  the  surfiice.'' 
To  the  south  and  sou  di  west  of  the  rock  the  water 'is  deep,  even  at  itl> 
base.     It  is  a  sandstone  of  a  dark  red  color,  and  somewhat  metamoiv. 

f)hosed  by  heat,  and  disposed  in  nearly  horizontal  layers.  Its  bearings, 
rom  the  most  reliable  information,  are,  from  Maniiou  island,  at  the  head 
of  Keweenaw  Point,  SK.  ^  E.  27  miles;  from  Point  Abbaye,  E.  by  N. 
i  N.  It  lies  in  the  direct  route  between  Grand  Island  and  KeweenaW 
•Point,  so  that  it  is  necessary  for  the  navigator  to  make  a  detour  to  avoid  it. 

This  is  the  only  reef  known  to  exist  in  the  midst  of  Lake  Superior, 
and  it  is  a  matter  of  surprise  that  it  remained  so  long  undiscovero<l. 

Professor  Mather  states  that  at  the  time  of  his  visit  a  strong  cuiTent  was 
setting  eastward,  which  drifted  the  vessel  more  than  half  a  mile  from  hw 
course.  The  lake  was  calm  and  the  breeze  light  j  the  approach  to  the 
rock,  therefore,  is  dangerous  even  under  the  most  favorable  circimistantjes. 

The  northern  shore  is  much  more  deeply  indented  than  the  southern. 
Among  the  deepest  of  these  indentations  may  be  mentioned  No^igon, 
Black  and  Thunder  bays,  which,  for  the  most  part,  are  lined  with  eleva- 
ted ridges  extending  down  to  the  water's  edge.  No  place  in  the  north- 
west presents  a  view  of  greater  magnificence  than  is  afforded  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Fort  William.  Blackened  walls  of  slate  and  trap,  covered  with  a 
dwarfish  growth  of  cedar  and  birch,  are  seen  on  every  side.  To  the 
south  Pie  island  rises  out  of  the  lake,  like  an  immense  castle,  to  the 
height  of  850  feet:  to  the  west,  McKay^s  mountain,  a  thousand  feet  in 
height,  overhangs  the  valley  of  the  Kaministiquia,  its  flanks  coin|)Osed  of 
basaltic  columns  as  regular  as  those  of  Staffa:  to  ttie  east.  Thunder  cape, 
1,350  feet  in  height,  with  unbroken  cliffs  extending  for  seven  miles,  re- 
sembling a  vast  colonnade,  juts  into  the  lake,  beyond  which  the  eye  rests 
upon  a  dark  expanse  of  water  bounded  only  by  the  horizon,  M'hile  to  the 
north  serried  ranges  of  mountains  rise  one  above  the  otiier  until  their  out- 
lines are  dimly  traced  against  the  sky. 

The  general  trend  of  the  southern  coast  is  east  and  west,  to  which, 
however,  Keweenaw  Point  forms  a  remarkable  exception.  Starting  from 
its  base,  it  projects  for  fifty  miles  into  the  lake,  taking  a  northeasterly  di- 
rection; then  curving  inwardly,  it  pursues  for  twenty  miles  an  easterly 
course,' terminating  in  an  abrupt  headland  which  rises  to  the  height  of 
800  feet  above  the  lake.  This  configuration  is  due  to  a  range  of  trappean 
hills,  which  in  their  widest  expansion  do,  not  exceed  twelve  miles,  or 
attain  an  elevation  greater  than  900  feet  above  the  lake. 

•  The  southern  coast  is  less  rock-boiuid  and  irregular  than  the  northern. 
The  principal  indentations  are  Ghaquamegon  bay,  Keeweenaw  and 
Huron  bays.  This  difference  in  the  character  of  the  two  coasts  results 
from  the  diversity  in  their  geological  stiucture. 

Where  the  rocks  consist  of  different  degrees  of  hardness  the  coast  pre- 
sents numerous  inlets,  bays,  and  harbors,  with  deep  but  narrow  channels; 
but  where  the  rocks  are  of  nearly  uniform  consistency,  the  shores  are 
gently  curved,  the  bays  wide,  and  the  harbors  sparse.  Thus  it  will  be 
seen,  by  insjpecting  the  geological  map,  that  where  the  igneous  rocks  pre- 


Oli^.  No  (i». 


U 


er,  who  vtff- 
icated  to  us: 
he  rock;  and 
iching  it,  we 
le  rocky  bot- 
[he  surface.*' 
p,  even  at  itis 
lat  methmof- 
Its  bearings, 
,  at  the  head 
e,  E.  by  N. 
[1  Keweenaw 
ur  to  avoid  it. 
ike  Superior, 
overod.  •   '''■ 
gcuiTentwas 
mile  from  her 
iproach  to  the 
ircnmstantjes. 
ihe  southern, 
ed  Ne^ii^on, 
id  with  elcva- 
!  in  the  north- 
d  in  the  vicin- 
;overed  With  a 
lide.    To  the 
castle,  to  the 
ousand  feet  in 
s  coni]wsed  of 
rhutider  cape, 
ven  miles,  re- 
1  the  eye  rests 
1,  while  to  the 
until  their  out- 
rest,  to  which. 
Starting  from 
)rtheasterly  di- 
es an  easterly 
the  height  of 
go  of  trappcan 
velve  miles,  or 

the  northern. 

;eweenaw  and 

coasts  results 

s  the  coast  pre- 
rrow  channels; 
the  shores  are 
Thus  it  will  be 
eous  rocks  pre- 


vail, the  const  is  finely  indented;  where  the  sandstones  prevail,  the  coast  ig 
gently  curved.  Copper  harbor,  Agate  harbor;  and  Elagle  harbor  are  ex- 
cavated in  a  belt  of  utnygdaloid ,  included  between  two  belts  of  conglom- 
erate, which  otTer  greater  resistance  to  the  action  of  the  sea  and  the 
atmosphere.  A  stream  or  a  fissure  may  have  served  originally  as  an  inlet 
to  the  waters,  whose  excavatory  power  was  circumscri  3d  by  the  harder 
and  firmer  sedimentary  rocks. 

Between  Eagle  harbor  and  the  Montreal  river  the  coast,  composed  of 
sandstone,  presents  no  projecting  headlands,  no  sheltered  bays.  To  the 
east  of  Keeweenaw  bay  tiiere  are  several  bold  projections  which  result 
from  the  joining  of  rocks  of  unequal  resisting  jwwer.  The  heads  of  the 
promoijtories  generally  consist  of  granite  or  basalt,  coiuiected  with  the 
main  land  by  low  and  narrow  spits  of  sandstone.  Granite  Point  and 
Presqu'Isle  are  examples  of  this  kind.  Within  the  present  century  the 
connecting  link  may  be  severed,  and  the  promontories  become  insulated 
like  the  Huron  islands,  which  at  no  remote  epoch  were  undoubtedly  con- 
nected in  a  similar  manner  with  the  main  land. 

Lakd  Superior  occupies  an  immense  depression,  which  has  been  for  the 
most  part  excavated  out  of  the  soft  and  yielding  sandstone.  Its  configu- 
ration on  the  east  and  north  has  been  determined  by  the  irregular  belt  oi 
granite  before  noticed,  which  forms  a  rim  cfiectually  resisting  the  further 
encroachments  of  its  watcs.  Limited  patches  of  sandstone,  such  as 
Caribou,  Parisien,  and  Maple  islands,  have  escaped  the  process  of  de- 
molition, a;td  indicate  the  ancient  limits  of  the  detrital  rocks. 

The  configuration  of  that  portion  of  the  lake  lying  west  of  longitude 
8S°  appears  to  have  been  caused  by  two  axes  of  elevation  extending  in 
parallel  lines  from  the  northeast  to  the  southwest,  which  upraised  the 
sandstone,  causing  it  to  form  a  synclinal  valley.  Another  valley  of  a  like 
character  occurs  south  of  the  trap  range  of  Keweenaw  Point  and  the  On- 
tonagon region,  iu  which  the  water  has  excavated  a  deep  and  spacious 
bay;  but  its  encroachments  are  limited  iu  that  direction  by  the  granite 
bosses  of  the  Huron  mountains.  Let  any  one  who  doubts  that  the  con- 
figiu"ation  of  tiie  lake  results  from  geological  causes  consult  the  map  of 
this  region,  and  he  will  be  satisfied  that  all  the  projections  and  indenta- 
tions of  the  coast  conform  in  a  remarkable  degree  to  the  main  lines  of 
upheaval . 

The  southern  coast  of  this  district  is  washed  by  the  waters  of  Lakes 
Huron  and  Michigan.  The  superficial  area  of  the  latter  is  nearly  a  third 
less  than  that  of  Superior,  being  twenty-two  thousand  square  niiles, 
while  in  depth  it  is  nof  much  inferior.  It  is  elevated  five  hundred  and 
seventy-eight  feet  above  tide-water,  and  depressed  forty  nine  feet  below 
Lake  Superior.  The  ro?ks  which  compose  its  rim  are  of  a  sedimentary 
nature,  and  afford  few  indentations  suitable  for  harbors.  The  immediate 
shores  are  low,  and  lined  in  plaices  with  immense  sand-banks.  Tiie  water 
shoals  gradually  in  approaching  tiie  coast.  Green  Bay  in  other  countries 
would  be  regarded  as  a  lake  of  great  magnitude — its  length  being  one 
hundred  miles,  its  average  breadth  twenty.  Great  and  Little  Traverse 
bays  occur  in  the  eastern  coast,  and  Great  and  Little  bays  d'Enoch  in 
the  northern.  "^Phe  maximum  length  of  the  lake  is  three  hundred  and 
twenty  miles,  its  maximum  width  one  hundred,  and  its  circumference 
somewhat  less  than  one  thousand  miles.  Its  form  is  oblong,  with  much 
uniformity  in  its  outlines.    The  islands  are  sparsely  distributed,  and 


22 


iRc.  No  at 


Riwin  pn  fneonsiderable  height.    Two  clusters  occnr — one  at  the  outlet 
of  the  main  l»ke,  the  other  at  that  of  Green  Bay. 

l.fikc  Mil  liigaii  js  connected  with  Lake  Huron  by  the  Straits  of  Macki- 
nac, forty  miles  in  lrr»£»th,  and  four  hi  breadth.  At  the  norrowest  point 
within  this  strait  I  hi  are  two  considerable  islands — B"is  Blanc  and 
Mackinac.  The  former  is  a  low,  wooded  island,  t-.venty-five  miles  in  cir« 
cuniii  'Piice. 

Mackinac  is  only  about  three  miles  in  diameter,  and  rises  to  the  height 
of  three  hundred  id  fifteen  feet;  it  is  walled  on  every  side  by  bare  cliffs 
of  limestone,  which  afford  many  scenes  of  picturesque  beauty.  As  a 
military  post,  it  may  be  considered  as  the  Gibraltar  of  the  lakes.  For- 
merly It  was  one  of  the  principal  depots  of  the  American  Fur  Compar 
but  of  late  years  the  traffic  has  rapidly  declined.  The  conimandint,  >  - . 
tion  of  MacKinac  did  not  escaj)e  the  keen  eye  of  the  Jesuits.  Oaoloa 
speaks  of  it,  in  1670,  as  the  centre  of  three  great  lakes;  and  from  *')a»  '}r\y 
to  the  present  it  has  been  an  impt>rtant  point — a  sort  of  coii:.v:>!  gromi  i  — 
in  the  negotiations  between  the  two  races.  The  hirbo'  «  excellent. 
There  is  nothing  to  make  this  island  a  place  of  any  greai  l  Mumercial  im- 
portance; but  had  the  government  relinquished  the  fee  of  the  laud. ,  it 
would  have  presented  a  fer  different  appearance  from  what  we  now  be- 
hold. Micbirnackinac  signifies  big  turtle,  so  called  from  a  fancied  re- 
semblance in  the  contours  of  the  island  to  the  form  of  that  animal. 

Lake  Huron  is  little  inferior  in  dimensions  to  Michigan,  its  greatest  length 
being  two  hundred  and  sixty  miles;  its  greatest  breadth  one  hundred  and 
sixty.  Its  circumference  is  eleven  hundred  miles;  its  area  twenty  thousand 
four  hundred.  Its  shape  Js  that  of  an  inverted  cone,  Georgian  bay,  one 
hundred  and  seventy  miles  in  length  and  seventy  in  breadth,  forms  the 
northeastern  portion ,  and  lies  exclusively  within  the  British  jurisdiction. 
Saginaw,  a  deepaiid  wide-mouthed  bay  on  the  western  coast, is  the  principal 
indentation.  The  riu>  of  the  lake  is  composed  for  the  most  part  of  de- 
trital  rocks,  which  are  rarely  exposed.  In  the  northern  portion  of  the 
lake,  however,  the  trap  rocks  on  the  Canada  side  intersect  the  coast. 
The  waters  possess  great  transparency,  and  extend  to  a  depth  rwt  sur- 
passed by  those  of  Superior  and  Michigan.  They  rarely  attain  a  tem- 
perature higher  than  60°,  and  are  stocked  with  fish  of  the  finest  flavor. 
The  surface  exhibits  the  dark- blue,  or  blue-black,  so  characteristic  of  the 
ocean. 

The  northern  coast,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  outlet  of  the  St.  Mary's, 
abounds  in  numerous  clusters  of  island;^.,  wh>ch  form  the  most  attractive 
feature  in  the  landscape.  Captain  Bay.iil.i  t  ?nid  to  have  landed  or  ten 
thousand,  in  the  pii>secution  of  his  .rv./  i  to  hav^  limated  the 
whole  number  at  thirty  thousand.  ''   ' 

The  following  table,  with  some  alterations,  exhibiting  the  area,  eleva- 
tion above  the  sea,  and  depth  of  the  five  great  lakes,  is  taken  from  the 
report  of  S.  W.  Higgins  on  the  topography  of  Michigan: 


:   .!.,     |. 


j>  I 


.  _,lt".      1       '.  .    l!i  I  ,  ■;     '  jX 


■;■'»'.  ,1, 

r."  •(■' '  ''.'It  M 


i't: 


•r 


tioc.  No.  69. 


^ 


at  the  outlet 


its.     ()ao'  n 


■'"'•  *'       Lakes. 

Qreatest 

length. 

Qreitest 
breadth. 

Mean  depth. 

Hciijht 
above  m*. 

A  rca  in  ^uara 
mile*. 

Superior ..'. 

Michigan 

Mitt*. 
320 

2r»o 

240 
180 

MUti. 
160 
100 
1641 

RO 
35 

Fi't. 
900 
900 
900 

81 
500 

627 

37R 
67H 
566 
232 

32,000 
22,  (MK) 
20.  4t)0 

Huron 

Erie 

9.  6(K) 

Ontario 

6,3t>0 

1' '    II  'i4                                          ' '  i"  ■  ' 

'■'  ^  1  '  Total 

90,300 

.  ■.;  ■■  ,.i 

1 

The  entire  area  drained  hy  these  lultes  is  estimated,  on  the  same  au- 
thority, at  335,515  square  miles. 

TliiB  district  is  a  part  of  that  immense  plain  bounded  by  tife  Appala- 
chian chain  on  the  east,  and  the  Rocky  mountains  on  the  west,  ar'  I  ex- 
tending north  and  south  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  Arctic  se;  Its 
mean  elevation  above  the  sea  is  less  than  a  thousand  feet,  ond  its  culmi- 
nating points  nowhere  exceed  2,500  feet.  Thev  can  hardly  be  dignified 
with  the  name  of  mountain  chains,  but  may  be  egarded  as  the  more  ele- 
vated portions  of  a  gently  rising  and  widely  extt  nded  plateau. 

The  bods  of  the  great  lakes  are  depressions,,  reaching  far  below  the 
ocean  level. 

In  this  plain,  with  their  branches  interlocking,  he  tv/o  great  rivers  of 
North  America  have  their  origin — the  Mississippi :  ad  St.  L;  wrence;  the 
one  discharging  its  waters,  through  many  mouths,  iito  the  (Julf  of  Mexi- 
co; the  other  expanding  into  a  gulf  many  hundreds  'f  miles  in  extent  be- 
fore it  becomes  merged  in  the  ocean. 

These  rivers  are  as  diverse  in  character  as  in  direction.  The 
Mississippi  is  the  longer,  but  the  St.  Lawrence  di>charges  the  greater 
volume  of  water.  The  one  abounds  in  difficult  rapi  Is,  the  other  in  stu- 
pendoiis  cataracts — the  one  is  subject  to  g^-eat  fluciuaiions,  the  other 
preserves  an  almost  unvarying  level.  The  waters  of  fhe  one  are  turbid; 
those  of  the  other  possess  an  almost  crystal  purity.  T  iie  one  affords  few 
lake-like  expansions;  the  other  swells  into  vast  inland  seas.  Both  have 
become  the  great  highways  of  commerce,  enriching  the  regions  through 
\\  hich  they  now,  and  supplying  the  inhabitants  with  tl  e  varied  products 
of  distant  climes. 

Lake  Superior  is  fed  by  more  than  80  streams,  none  of  vhich  attain  any 
considerable  magnitude,  and  are  adapted  only  to  c;  loe  navigation. 
Those  which  flow  down  the  northern  slope  of  the  basii^  are  longer  than 
those  of  the  southern,  and  the  water,  being  more  exposed  :o  the  direct  rays 
of  the  sun,  possesses  a  higlier  temperature.  They  all  havt  rapid  descents, 
and,  flowing  over  rocks  which  oppose  great  resistance  t)  the  action  of 
water,  abound  in  falls  and  rapids.  The  carrying-place  around  these 
obstructions  are  known  as  "portages."  Communication  iiroughout  the 
northwest   between  distant  points  is  effected  almost  em  rely  with  the 

tlip    shin  on  flip  oopnn.  nr  thpn.ampl 


canoe.      It  serves  flifi  samfi  nnrnnsp.  as 
-       '        . ".'  I — I 

on  the  desert 


in   til  A  nppnri    nr 

— >  "*   - — 

This  kind  of  inland  navigation  has  created  a  class  of  men  of 


marked  pecuUarities,  known  as  voyageiirs.     They  are  a  hardy  race,  pa- 


!  -M 


?4 


Doc.  No.  69. 


M 


tient  of  toil,  and  cheerful  under  the  most  untoward  circtmstances.  In 
their  frail  barks  they  pass  from  Lake  Superior  to  the  Mississippi,  to  Hud- 
son's bay,  to  the  Pacific,  and  even  to  the  Arctic  ocean. 

Rivers. — Rivers  are  the  great  arterial  features  of  our  globe;  they  define 
the  valleys,  give  boundaries  to  the  hills  and  mountain  ranges,  and  if 
traced  to  their  source,  enable  us,  with  the  aid  of  a  few  well  determined 
culminating  points  of  contiguous  ranges,  to  trace  upon  our  charts  the 
general  feature  of  the  country  through  which  they  flow.*  This  know- 
ledge is  particularly  desirable  at  this  day,  when  rapid  communication  is 
sought  between  distant  points  by  means  of  railways.  By  barometrical 
observations  extended  over  most  of  the  district  the  elevation  of  the  water- 
shed line  has  been  determined.  These  will  aid  in  the  selection  of  the 
most  practicable  route  between  the  two  lakes,  and  enable  the  observer  to 
form  a  pretty  correct  idea  of  the  physical  features  of  the  region. 

The  following  diagram  shows  the  course  of  the  water-shed  in  this  dis- 
trict.   It  is  represented  by  the  irregular  dotted  lines:  !- 


*wis  c  0  2>rsiiT 


I.AK1I     MIC  HI  CAB- 


It  will  be  seen  that  the  streams  flowing  into  Lake  Mlchi^n,  in  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  district,  head  near  Lake  Superior.  Proceeding 
west,  the  line  is  deflected  from  the  upper  lake,  and  another  line  divei-ges 
towards  the  northeast.  The  main  line  is  due  to  the  upheaval  of  the 
granite;  the  secondary  line  to  that  of  the  trap. 

We  will  describe  tlie  rivers  of  this  region  in  their  order  of  succession, 
rather  than  with  reference  to  their  magnitude. 

The  Montreal  is  a  river  of  no  great  magnitude,  being  navigable  above 
tlie  falls  at  its  mouth  by  canoes  only  during  the  time  of  flood.  It  is  formed 
by  the  union  of  the  Pine  and  Balsam  rivers,  thirty-four  miles  above  its 
mouth,  Allowing  its  meanders.  At  this  point,  according  to  Captain  Cram, 
it  is  eight  hundred  and  four  feet  above  Lake  Su[)erior.  Flowing  over  hard 
un^rielding  rocks,  it  abounds  in  numerous  rapids  and  cataracts.  Near  its 
mouth  it  is  precipitated  eighty  feet  over  a  sandstone  ledge.  Four  miles 
up,  there  is  another  fall  of  about  the  same  height,  but  much  more  pictur- 
esque. The  aboriginal  name  of  this  stream  is  Ka  wasijiwmig-sepi,  or 
White  Falls  river. 

The  Black  and  Presqu'Ish  are  streams  of  considerable  magnitude, 
which  have  their  sources  in  the  granite  near  the  southern  limits  of  the 


district 
dischar 
The 
Jesuit 
flow  in 
bined. 
Their 
locking 
ents  of 
Little  F 
The  wj 
flavor, 
the  jun( 
and  has 
one  hui 
to  the 
through 
branche 
deeply  c 
the  yielc 
dred  an 
to  claml 
is  suffici 
of  the  gr 
lods  in  c 
At  the 
.^^  ordinaril 
1$'.  is  often  ^ 
drive  in 
tance  of 
nan'ow  c 
at  all  tin 
Sitwo  hun 
j  water  bel 
M  become  i 
[would  b( 
|c<instruci 
wints  w 
[arbor, 
A  keel 
)lies  bet 
ifteen  m 
sresent  a 
have  bee 
hat  boat 
Betwe 
Rtreams, 
Ijake  Su 
)lyof  hy 
[eween? 


•  Cftplain  F.  W.  Beecticy,  R.  N.— Mwauttl  of  Scioniific  Jiiqwiry,  art.  "Hydrography." 


Doc.  No.  69. 


25 


district.    They  flow  northwesterly,  and,  hreaking  through  the  trap  i-ange, 
discharge  themselves  into  Lake  Superior. 

The  Ontonagon — or  Navtonagan,  according  (o  the  orthography  of  the 
Jesuit  map — is  the  largest  of  all  of  the  streams  within  this  district  which 
flow  into  Lake  Superior.  It  has  three  principal  affluents  which  com- 
bined, drain  an  area  of  not  less  than  thirteen  hundred  square  mibrf. 
Their  sources  are  found  near  the  southern  limits  of  the  district,  inter- 
locking with  those  of  the  Chippewa  and  Menomonee.  One  of  the  afflu- 
ents of  the  west  branch  drains  a  large  inland  lake,  known  as  Agogebic  or 
Little  Fit'  lake,  which  lies  about  seven  liundred  feet  above  the  main  lake. 
The  waters  are  clear,  cold,  and  deep,  and  swarm  with  fish  of  the  finest 
flavor.  After  leaving  this  lake,  the  course  of  the  stream  is  northeast  along 
the  junction  of  the  sandstone  and  trap,  until  it  uni,tes  with  the  main  river, 
and  has,  in  pi  ices,  excavated  a  channel  in  the  sandstone  to  the  depth  of 
one  hundred  feet.  After  this  junction  the  combined  stream  turns  abruptly 
to  the  north,  flowing  across  the  trap  range  in  a  natural  depression, 
through  which  it  finds  its  way  to  the  lake.  The  southern  and  eastern 
branches,  for  a  greater  portion  of  their  courses,  flow  through  a  country 
deeply  covered  with  stratified  clays,  and  their  channels  are  excavated  in 
the  yielding  beds.  The  banks  in  places  rise  to  the  height  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet,  and  are  so  precipitous  that  it  is  a  task  of  great  labor 
to  clamber  to  their  tops.  The  depth  of  water  in  each  of  these  branches 
is  sufflcient  to  float  a  canoe,  but  numerous  portages  occur  in  consequence 
of  the  great  accumulation  of  drift-wood.  Some  of  these  "rafts."  are  fifteen 
lods  in  extent. 

At  the  mouth  of  the  Ontonagon  there  is  a  sand-bar,  on  which  there  is 
ordinarily  from  five  to  six  feet  of  water.    During  the  spring -flood  this  bar 
is  often  washed  away,  but  it  is  reformed  by  the  northerly  winds,  which 
drive  in  a  heavy  sea.    The  extension  of  piers  from  this  point  for  the  dis- 
tance of  four  hundred  feet  seaward,  so  as  to  confine  the  current  within  a 
nan'ow  compass,  would  remove  this  obstruction  and  render  the  entrance 
at  all  times  accessible.     Tiie  bar  once  passed,  there  is  a  spacious  harbor 
jtwo  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  width  and  eight  miles  long,  witli  a  depth  of 
J  water  between  twelve  and  fifteen  feet.     The  mouth  of  the  river  has  already 
Ibecome  a  place  of  much  imjwrtance,  and  an  hnprovement  of  tliis  kind 
[would  be  of  great  value  to  this  portion  of  the  mining  region,  although  its 
[construction  would  be  a  work  of  much  labor  and  expense.     The  nearest 
wints  where  vessels  can  take  refuge  in  a  storm  are  La  Pointe  and  Eagle 

[arbor,  each  of  which  is  about  seventy-five  miles  removed. 
A  keel-boat  seventy-five  feet  in  length,  and  capable  of  carrying  ten  tons, 

'■—  between  the  mouth  of  the  river  and  the  Minnesota  landing,  distant 


)lies 


ifteen  miles.   Three  miles  below  this  point  occur  the  tJrand  rapids,  which 
present  a  very  serious  obst^'uction  to  the  navigation.     These,  however, 
^lave  been  so  far  improved  by  removing  the  boulders  from  the  channel,^ 
hat  boats  can  ascend  by  poling  or  warping. 

Between  Keweenaw  Point  and  the  Ontonagon  there  are  several  small 
Mreams,  which  have  their  origin  in  the  trap  range  and  flow  northwrrd  into 
"jake  Superior.  Their  descent  is  rapid,  and  they  afford  an  abundant  sup- 
ply of  hydrauhc  power.  Two  inconsiderable  streanis  occur  near  tiie  head  of 
Keweenaw  Point,  Eagle  and  Montreal  rivers.  The  former  flows  along  a 
[ongitudinal  valley  for  a  distance  of  six  miles,  then  breaks  through  the 
rap  range  at  nearly  right-angles  with  its  former  course,  and  is  precipitated 


26 


Doc.  No.  69. 


into  the  lake.  It  is  the  only  stream  of  any  magnitude  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  mines  on  the  Point,  and  its  waters  have  been  already  employed  in 
the  washing  of  the  ores. 

The  Little  Montreal  flows  through  a  longitudinal  valley  between  two 
ranges  of  trap,  and  enters  the  lake  a  little  below  the  eastern  extremity  of 
the  point. 

The  Sturgeon,  with  the  exception  of  the  Ontonagon,  is  the  largest  river 
on  the  northern  slope  of  the  axis  between  Lakes  Superior  and  Michigan, 
and  its  sources  are  elevated  more  than  a  thousand  feet  above  its  outlet. 
The  area  drained  by  its  tributaries  is  five  hundred  and  seventy- five  square 
miles.  For  the  first  twenty  miles  its  course  lies  through  the  granite  and 
metamorphic  rocks,  and  the  descent  is  rapid;  after  that  it  enters  a  broad 
and  slightly  undulating  plain  deeply  covered  with  transported  materials, 
and  discharges  itself  into  Portage  lake.  Its  entire  length,  including  its 
sinuosities,  is  not  less  than,  sixty-five  miles.  For  the  last  fifteen  miles  of 
its  course,  it  runs  parallel  with  Keweenaw  bay.  Between  its  mouth  and 
township  61,  range  34,  its  course  is  very  tortuous.  Its  banks  are  composed 
of  clay,  with  pebbles  intermixed,  and  rise  from  six  to  eight  feet  above  it'i 
surface.  Its  width  at  this  point  is  about  one  hundred  and  forty  feet,  its 
depth  about  four  feet,  and  a  luxuriant  growth  of  forest  trees,  consisting  of 
elm,  maple,  linden,  and  black  ash,  lines  its  banks. 

After  crossing  the  correction  line  the  country  changes  in  its  ch?iracter. 
The  ravines  are  numerous  and  deep,  and  the  ridges  of  sand  aud  clay  at- 
tain a  higher  altitude.  A  change  is  also  observable  in  tlie  forest  trees,  the 
cedar,  fir,  and  white  birch  supplanting  the  elm,  the  maple,  and  the 
ash. 

One  of  our  party,  Mr.  Hill,  ascended  this  river  in  a  canoe  for  a  distance 
of  twenty-five  miles.  His  progress  was  occasionally  obstructed  by  drift- 
wood, around  which  he  was  compelled  to  make  portages.  The  lower 
portion  of  this  valley  may  be  regarded  as  among  the  best  agricultural 
tracts  in  the  northern  peninsula.  The  Sturgeon  has,  in  the  course  of 
ages,  formed  a  delta  at  its  mouth  about  four  miles  in  extent.  It  con- 
tains many  lagoons,  which  at  one  time  formed  the  bed  of  the  river. 
This  bottom  annually  yields  a  luxuriant  crop  of  blue-grass,  which  is 
mowed  and  conveyed  to  Ij'Anse.* 

Portage  lake,  which  may  be  regarded  as  an  expansion  of  Sturgeon  river, 
lies  in  the  form  of  a  rhomb  at  the  base  of  Keweenaw  Point.  It  is  about 
eighteen  miles  in  circumference,  and  has  three  principal  arms — one  con- 
necting with  Keweenaw  bay,  another  with  Torch  lake,  while  the  third 
expends  to  within  a  mile  of  Lake  Superior,  on  the  northwest  side  of  the 
Point,  across  which  there  has  been  a  portage  from  time  immemorial. f 

•  L'Anse  properly  HignifieN  "the  buy, or  creek,"  but  thr(>ughuut  this  rejiion  it  is  applied  to 
^eei^naie  the  seitlenncniH  at  ttie  heiid  of  Keweenaw  bay.  These  consist  of  a  Catholic  misaion 
on  ihi;  west  side,  mid  a  Methodist  inisHiot.  on  the  east.  There  aie  about  four  hundred  souls, 
coiipisting  (if  Indians,  half-bierda,  and  whiles;  the  first  largely  predominating:.  Their  pursuits 
e  insist  in  fi4iirij;  and  hurting; ;  cultivating,  howevei,  patches  of  potatoes,  for  the  growth  of 
wliii:h  the  soil  is  admirably  adapted.  At  each  nnission  there  is  a  school.  The  goveinment 
cinidoys  a  blarkkmitli,  a  rarpentcr,  and  a  farmer,  who^<e  duties  are  to  aid  and  instruct  the  In- 
diana III  their  respective  arts.  Tliere  are  also  three  or  four  traders  who  furnish  the  Indians  with 
poods,  in  excliange  fm-  fi-^h  and  peltries  At  the  head  of  the  bay  is  a  saw-mill  owned  by  Mr. 
Ui'Hwcli.  wriicti  uiinuiuiy  turns  out  twenty  thousand  feet  of  lumber,  worth  from  ten  to  thir- 
teen dollars  per  thousand  at  the  mill. 

t  Father  iliinC  Mesnard  was  lost  while  crossing  this  portigo,  on  the  20ih  of  Auf^ust,  1661. 
It  is  strange  that  no  hfiiuJlaiid,  or  lake,  or  bay,  throughout  this  vast  region,  bears  the  honored 
name  uf  han  who  was  the  first  white  man  to  explore  them. 


I 


Doc.  No.  60. 


27 


le  vicinity  of 
employed  in    i 

between  two 
extremity  of 

!  largest  river 
id  Michigan, 
ve  its  outl/3t. 
;y- five  square 
;  granite  and 
nters  a  broad 
ed  materials, 
including  its 
fteen  miles  of 
ts  mouth  and 
are  composed 
feet  above  ite 
forty  feet,  its 
consisting  of 

its  character. 
I  and  clay  at- 
test trees,  the 
iple,  and  the 

for  a  distance 
cted  by  drift- 
The  lower 
t  agricuUural 
he  course  of 
ent.  It  con- 
of  the  river. 
iss,  which  is 


Lurgeon  river, 
It  is  about 
lis — one  con- 
lile  the  third 
t  side  of  the 
memorial. t 

n  it  is  applied  to 
Gatliolic  misaion 
r  hundred  souls, 
Their  pursuits 
jr  the  growth  of 
The  goveinment 
d  instruct  ilio  ln« 
the  Indians  with 
ilt  owned  by  Mr. 
lom  ten  to  thir- 

of  Au!^'aSt,lG61. 

■ears  the  honored 


By  pursuing  this  route  between  La  Pointe  and  L'Anse,  the  distance  is 
shortened  about  eighty  miles.  The  river  connecting  Portage  lake  with 
Keweenaw  bay  is  about  four  miles  in  length,  being  broad  and  deep.  The 
water  on  the  bar  at  the  mouth,  however,  is  but  about  four  feet  deep. 

Between  Keweenaw  bay  and  White- Fish  point  there  are  no  large  rivers. 
The  principal  streams  are  the  Hxiron,  Dead,  (Du  Mort,)  Carp,  Chocolate, 
La  Prairie,  and  Two-Hearted.  They  have  their  sources  near  the  lake, 
and  descend  rapidly,  affording  abundant  water-power.  They  are  not 
navigable  for  canoes  even,  except  for  short  distances,  but  their  mouths, 
for  the  most  part,  afford  tolerable  boat  harbors. 

The  Tequamenen  is  among  the  largest  streams  on  the  northern  slope. 
Its  length  is  sixty- five  miles,  and  the  area  drained  by  it  not  less  than  six 
»    hundred  square  miles,  and  its  course  is  nearly  parallel  with  that  of  the  lake 
1    coast.   It  can  be  ascended  to  the  foot  of  the  falls  fifteen  miles  up,  in  coast- 
ing boats,  and  still  further  in  canoes  by  making  portages  around  the  ob- 
structions. 

Passing  to  the  southern  slope  of  the  axis,  the  Manistee  is  the  princi- 
pal river  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  district.  It  drains  a  flat,  swampy 
country,  about  i,3U0  square  miles  in  extent.  It  has  four  principal  afflu- 
ents which  come  in  from  the  northwest,  some  of  whose  branches  head 
within  five  miles  of  the  Lake  Superior  coast.  Over  this  area  are  scattered 
numerous  lakes  which  serve  as  reservoirs  to  collect  and  retain  the  super- 
fluous water. 

The  White-Fish,  Escanaba,  and  Fort  rivers  flow  into  Little  Bay 
d'Knoch.  Each  drains  an  area  varying  between  400  and  500  square  miles, 
and  all  may  be  ranked  among  the  second  class  rivers  of  this  region. 
Their  banks  are  covered  with  pine  forests,  and  large  quantities  of  lumber 
are  annually  shipped  to  Chicago  and  other  ports. 

The  Menomoiiee,  which  forms  in  part  the  boundary  between  Michigan 
and  Wisconsin,  is  the  largest  river  within  this  district  with  the  exception 
of  the  St.  Mary's.  Some  of  its  sources  lie  within  fifteen  miles  of  LaKO 
Superior — its  outlet  is  two  hundred  miles  distant.  Its  eastern  branch, 
called  tlie  Muchigamig,  or  river  flowing  from  a  big  lake,  rises  in  the  Huron 
mountains,  which  are  1,249  feet  above  Green  bay.  After  crossing  the 
summit  level  in  township  48  north,  range  32  west,  there  are  a  series 
of  natural  meadows  covered  with  grass,  through  which  flows  a  small, 
clear  stream,  across  which  one  may  leap  with  ease.  Afler  pursuing  this 
for  about  three  miles,  we  come  to  where  it  discharges  itselt  into  a  small 
lake  called  by  the  Indians,  Sagiagdns.  This  is  the  head  of  canoe  navi- 
gation between  Keweenaw  bay  and  Green  bay  of  Lake  Michigan,* .and 
lies  1,049  feet  above  that  lake.  There  are  two  other  lakes  in  close  prox- 
imity, connected  together  by  tortuous  streams.  A  shorp  range  of  granite 
hills  bounds  them  on  the  north,  while  to  the  south  the  country  is  level 
and  marshy.  Between  the  second  and  third  lakes  occurs  Portage  No.  1, 
tJiree- fourths  of  a  mile  in  extent,  and  on  the  right  bank  of  the  stream. 


•In  the  full  of  1848  we  passed  over  this  route  to  Ureen  Bay.  Our  canoe  was  borne  by  two 
vnyogeurs  from  L'Anse  to  this  point,  distant  twenty-fivu  inilns,  ovrr  elevdiii)n8  l.ilOO  feet  above 
the  lake,  thriiu^h  cednr  swamps  where  for  miles  wo  hnd  in  hew  our  wuy,  and  wade  through 
liieauows  iiiiee-iicep  in  water,  [t  was  a  herculean  feat  of  strength  and  endurance,  acciim()lit>he(l 
in  little  more  than  two  days;  and  Agindos,  whoso  shoulders  bore,  iho  bulk  <•'  the  bmden,  de- 
serves to  be  panicularly  named  As  this  route  is  practicable,  but  never  liavellta  except 
by  Indiana,  tve  will  dcacribe  it  with  some  minutcnc^d. 


3d 


Boc.  No.  69. 


The  descent  is  twenty-four  feet — the  channel  being  filled  with  numerous 
boulders.  Portage  No.  2  is  on  the  left  bank  of  the  stream,  a  short  dis- 
tance above  the  point  where  it  discharges  itself  into  the  Machi-gunnui,  or 
Big  lake,  (section  25,  township  48  north,  range  31  west.)  The  Portage 
is  three-fourths  of  a  mile  long — the  descent  twenty  nine  feet. 

Machi-gumnii  lies  1,014  feet  above  Lake  Superior.  It  occupies  the  en- 
tire length  of  township  48,  range  30,  and  hi  its  southern  prolongation 
extends  into  the  adjoining  township.  On  the  north  it  is  bordered  by  a 
range  of  hills  rising  in  conical  knobs  to  the  height  of  two  hundred  feet: 
on  the  soutli,  the  country  is  less  elevated.  Its  surface  is  dotted  with 
numerous  small  islands  rising  up  dome-shaped,  with  much  regularity  of 
outline.  These  summits  are  clotlied  with  a  dwarfish  growth  of  cedai-  and 
fir,  while  their  sides  exhibit  blackened  masses  of  hornblende. 

This  lake  is  seldom  visited  by  the  white  man,  but  the  Indians  resort 
here  to  hunt  and  trap.  Along  its  shores  are  valuable  deposites  of  iron, 
and  its  solitude  may  be  disturbed  within  the  present  century  by  the 
sound  of  the  forge-hammer  and  the  puff  of  the  steam-engine. 

At  the  outlet  of  this  lake  the  stream  becomes  augmented  to  the  width 
of  sixty  feet,  with  an  average  depth  of  two  feet;  and  the  descent  is  very 
rapid:  the  water  is  highly  colored,  and  flows  over  a  gravel  bed. 

About  a  mile  below  the  outlet  occurs  the  third  portage,  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  stream.  It  is  a  mile  in  length;  the  descent  35  feet.  The  bed  of 
the  stream  is  filled  with  boulders  of  hornblende  and  granite.  Portage 
No,  4  occurs  in  section  7,  township  40,  range  29,  on  the  left  bank.  Length 
half  a  mile,  descent  14  feet. 

Between  these  two  portages  the  river  is  confined  within  narrow  alluvial 
banks,  but  it  occasionally  enlarges  into  lake-like  expansions  which  are 
fringed  with  tall  grasses.  These  become  the  resort  of  innumerable  water- 
fowl, while  the  wooded  banks  are  the  chosen  haunts  of  the  beaver  and 
otter.  Pealed  sticks  of  yellow  birch,  often  seen  floating  in  the  stream, 
indicate  the  proximity  of  the  former,  while  numerous  ' 'slides"  in  the 
plastic  clay-banks  show  that  we  v/ere  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  latter. 

This  portion  of  tlie  country,  though  elevated,  contains  few  ridges. 
The  rocks  rarely  emerge  to  the  surlace,  but  are  concealed  by  heavy 
accumulations  of  sand,  clay,  and  gravel,  raingled  tt  gether  pele-mele. 
The  stream  descends  rapidly,  and  its  channel  is  filled  with  large  blocks 
of  hornblende  and  granite. 

Near  the  north  part  of  township  40,  ranges  29  and  30,  a  ridge  rismg 
two  hundred  feet  above  the  surrounding  level  is  seen,  ranging  north  of 
west.  Towards  the  river  it  presents  a  nearly  unbroken  cHtf  one  hundred 
andlthirteen  feet  in  height,  which,  on  examination,  proved  to  be  nearly 
pure  specular  oxide  of  iron. 

Portage  No.  5  is  on  the  right  bank  of. the  river,  in  township  45,  range 
29;  length  two  and  a  half  miles.  The  river  for  a  long  distance  above 
presents  a  series  of  rapids,  many  of  which  are  difficult  and  dangerous.* 

•  We  have  indicated  on  the  general  map  the  position  of  the  rapids;  and  in  this  report  we  have 
dcscr^ied  th'ir  character  wllh  gome  minuteness.  Wehave  done  this  for  the  benefit  of  future 
navigators.  When  one  arrives  at  the  head  of  a  rapid  white  with  foam  and  dotted  with  pro- 
jecting rocks,  he  is  desirous  of  knowing  beforehand  whether  the  descent  be  practicable;  for  once 
withiti  the  cufreiU,  there  is  no  power  to  retrace. 

We  have  oftt'n*had  occasion  to  admire  the  dexterity  displayed  by  our  Indian  voyageurs  in 
descending  long  and  dilFiruk  rapids.  It  requires  a  quick  eye  instantly  to  detect  the  deepest  part 
oi  the  ciiaiiiml,  and  to  deiennine,  by  the  break  of  the  water,  the  position  of  hidden  rocks — a 


Dor.  Nq.  69. 


29 


ith  numermis 
1,  a  short  dis- 
jhigummi,  or 
TUe  Portage 
t. 

cupies  the  en- 
prolongation 
bordered  by  a 
hundred  feet: 
3  dotted  with 
1  regularity  of 
1  of  cedar  and 
e. 

ndians  resort 
osites  of  iron, 
iitury  by  the 

B. 

to  the  width 
jscent  is  very 
led. 

I  the  left  bank 

The  bed  of 

lite.    Portage 

)ank.  Length 

arrow  alluvial 
ins  which  are 
lerable  water- 
beaver  and 
n  the  stream, 
ides"  in  the 
of  the  latter, 
few  ridges. 
3d  by  heavy 
er  pele-niele. 
I  large  blocks 


I  ridge  rising 
jing  north  of 
one  hundred 
to  be  nearly 

lip  45,  range 

stance  above 

dangerous.* 

s  report  we  have 
benefit  of  fiuure 
dotted  with  pro- 
cticublej  furuiice 

ian  voyageurs  in 
:  tlie  deepest  part 
hidden  rocks — a 


T'he  descent  between  the  foot  of  Portage  No.  4  and  the  head  of  Portage 
No.  5  is  eighty-seven  feetj  the  descent  of  Portage  No.  5  is  thirty-seven 
feet. 

Portage  No.  6  is  on  tlie  line  of  sections  29  and  30,  to\^nship  44, 
range  29;  length  one-eighth  of  a  mile.  It  is  caused  by  an  accumulation 
of  flood- wood,  so  thickly  matted  that  bushes  and  flowers  have  taken  root, 
and  flourish  luxuriantly.  Here  the  winter  trail  to  Green  Bay  passes,  and 
Uie  mail  ceurier  has  availed  himself  of  this  obstruction  to  cross  the  river. 
Within  this  township  the  Machigamig  receives  from  the  right  its  two 
principal  tributaries,  the  Mitchikau  or  Fence  river,  and  the  Nebegomiwini 
or  Night-watching  river.  The  origin  of  these  terms,  as  explained  by  our 
voyageurs,  was  this:  At  one  time  the  deer  were  observed  to  be  very 
numerous  about  the  mouth  of  the  former  river,  and  the  Indians,  to  secure 
them,  built  a  fence  from  one  stream  to  the  other.  They  would  follow 
rathter  than  overleap  this  barrier,  until  they  were  entrapped  by  their  con- 
coaled  foe.  This  method  of  capturing  the  deer  is  also  practised  on  the 
Menomonee.  ; 

The  latter  stream  abounds  in  beaver  and  other  gjirtie;  and  it  is  the  prac- 
tice of  the  Indians,  in  the  clear  moon-light  nights,  to  watch  on  its  banks 
for  their  appearance;  hence  the  origin  of  the  term.  '   '  . 

Portage  No.  7  is  about  two  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  last-ntimed 
river,  (township  4.3,  range  31.)  It  occurs  on  the  right  bank,  and  is  only 
one  ijuarter  of  a  mile  in  length.  The  river  here  falls  perpendicularly  nine 
feet.  A  high  range  of  slate  rocks,  rising  from  the  immediate  banks  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet,  was  observed. 

Portage  No.  8  (township  48,  range  31)  is  over  a  ridge  of  hornblende 
and  feldspar  rocks,  through  which  the  river  has  excavated  a  channel: 
length  one-eighth  of  a  mile,  descent  seventeen  feet. 

Portage  No.  9  is  in  the  same  township  and  range,  about  four  miles  be- 
low the  former,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river;  it  is  one  mile  and  three- 
quarters  long,  the  descent  being  forty-two  and  a  half  feet.  The  ridge, 
bearing  north  72°  east,  attains  an  elevation  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet, 
whose  summit  is  composed  of  granite,  but  the  flanks  consist  of  horn- 
blende and  mica  slate,  folded  OA^er  it  like  a  mantle.  The  banks  of  the 
stream  are  lined  with  precipitous  ledges,  and,  altogether,  it  forms  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  and  romantic  gorges  on  the  Machigamig.  The  country 
in  this  vicinity  is  traversed  by  numerous  ridges,  more  or  less  broken, 
which  nowhere  attain  ?  great  elevation.  The  rocks  emerge  to  the  sur- 
face at  short  intervals,  and  the  immense  accumulations  of  drift  noticed 
above  are  wanting. 

Portage  No.  H)  is  in  the  north  part  of  township  42,  range  31,  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  below  the  latter,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  stream:  length 
one  mile  and  an  eighth.  The  current  is  rapid  both  above  and  below,  the 
descent  between  the  two  being  fifty-six  feet.  At  the  foot  of  the  rapids 
are  several  small  islands  wlii",!!  divide  the  current. 

The  last  portage  (No.  1 1 )  is  about  one-quarter  of  a  mile  above  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Menomonee.     It  is  on  the  right  bank  of  the  stream,  and  one- 
of  a  mile  in  length.  "  The  river  here  breaks 


eighth 


through  a  ridge  of 


vigorous  hand  to  guide  the  frail  canoe  aa  it  dashes  on  its  tortuous  course  with  the  speed  of  a 
race-horse.  Accidents  ofien  occur,  but  f>r(unatcly  the  means  of  rtfifin-  are  ulways  at  hand- 
to  wit,  birch  baik  and  spruce  gum. 


30 


Doc.  No.  69. 


<:'ll 


i 


hornblende  slate,  over  which  it  is  precipitated  twenty-four  feet.    It  is  the 
most  romantic  of  all  the  cascades  on  the  Machigamig. 

The  length  of  this  stream  from  Sagiagans,  following  its  meanders,  is 
about  seventy  miles,  and  its  general  course  is  south  of  west:  the  area  drained 
by  it  is  nearly  eight  hundred  square  miles.  The  Brule  or  Wesacota, 
here  joins  it  on  the  right,  and,  after  the  junction,  the  united  streams  take 
the  name  of  the  Menomonee. 

The  Brule  has  its  origin  in  a  lake  of  the  same  name,  through  which 
passes  the  south  line  of  the  boundary  of  this  district.  It  is  one  of  a  chain 
of  beautiful  lakes  which  extends  almost  uninterruptedly  along  the  whole 
southern  border.  The  current  is  rapid;  but  only  two  portages  occur  in  its 
course,  about  ten  miles  above  its  mouth,  near  the  junction  of  the  Me(]ua- 
cumecum,  in  township  41 ,  range  32.  The  stream  is  eighty  or  ninety  feet 
in  width,  its  bed  rocky,  and  its  banks  studded  with  a  thick  growth  of 
cedar,  tamarack,  and  birch,  whose  overhanging  branches  often  obstruct 
the  passage  of  a  canoe.  The  Indians  have  .been  accustomed  to  ascend 
this  river  from  time  immemorial,  on  their  route  from  Green  Hay  to  Vieux 
Desert,  and  numerous  camping-grounds  are  to  bo  found  along  its  banks. 
Its  ascent  is  at  all  times  practicable  in  a  light  canoe.  The  Mequacume- 
cum  is  its  principal  affluent,  which  rises  near  the  sources  of  the  Sturgeon 
It  has  as  long  a  course,  and  drains  as  great  an  area,  as  the  Mml<  itself.  This 
river,  too,  is  frequently  ascended  by  the  Indians  in  their  passage  to  Lake 
Superior.  Tiie  length  of  the  Brule  is  about  fifty  miles.  The  area 
drained  by  the  Brule  and  Mequacumecum  contains  about  nine  hundred 
square  miles. 

The  Menowonoe  may  be  characterized  as  a  river  of  cataracts  ani  rapids. 
Although  it  pours  down  a  large  volume  of  water,  expanding  in  places  to 
a  width  of  600  feet,  so  numerous  are  the  obstructions,  that  it  can  never  bo 
adapted  to  other  than  canoe  navigation. 

•Within  the  distance  of  twelve  miles  from  the  jimction  of  the  before 
described  streams  two  portages  occur,  but  the  rapids  at  these  places  are 
sometimes  run  by  voyageurs  who  are  acquainted  with  the  chainieK 

A  short  distance  below  Bad  Water  lake,  two  falls  occur  within  the 
space  of  a  little  tnore  than  a  mile,  the  descent  in  each  case  being  about 
nine  feet.*  The  portages  are  short,  and  both  are  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
river,  and  over  ridges  of  chlorite  slate. 

Great  Bekuenesec  (Smoky)  Falls  are  situated  in  township  39,  range  30, 
and  are  the  most  picturesque  ot'  all  the  cascades  on  the  Menomonee.  The 
portage  is  one  mile  and  a  half  in  length;  and  *<  within  this  distance,"  says 
Captain  Cram,  "  the  descent  is  13-1  feet.  This  amount  is  divided 
into  several  chutes,  with  intervening  rapids.  The  general  aspect  of 
this  series  of  falls  is  very  picturesque.  At  every  change  in  the  jioint  of 
view,  new  and  varied  beauties  are  perceived."'  At  the  lower  falls  the 
water  is  precipitated  in  a  sheet  of  foam  from  the  height  of  forty  feet.  The 
river  above  is  compressed  between  narrow  and  rock-bound  banks,  but 
below  it  expands  into  a  pool  SiiO  feet  in  width. 

Within  tlie  same  tovvnshi[)  are  situated  the  Little  Bekuenesec  Falls, 
where  the  water,  in  ll^e  distance  of  2.50  feet,  falls  tliirty-live  feet.  The 
portage  on  the  left  l)ank  is  short  but  arduous.  Tiie  descent  of  the  river 
within  this  township  exceeds  fifteen  feet  per  mile, 

*The  heights  of  the  fulls  on  the  Menomonee  are  tslten  from  the  report  of  Captain  Cram-,  of  U»e 
United  States  topographical  corf.s. — Vide  Doc.  .33  ;2Cth  CongresB,  2d  session. 


I 
■I 


Doc.  No.  69. 


81 


feet.    It  is  the 

s  meanders,  is 
he  area  drained 
,  or  Wesacota, 
d  streams  take 

hrough  which 
one  of  a  chain 
ong  the  whole 
[es  occur  in  its 
of  the  Me(]na- 
or  ninety  feet 
ick  growth  of 
often  obstruct 
led  to  ascend 
[Jay  to  Vieux 
ougits  banks. 
i  Mequacume- 
the  Sturgeon 
K  itself.  This 
ssage  to  Lake 
s.  The  area 
nine  hundred 

ts  ani  rapids, 
ig  in  places  tn 
t  can  never  be 

of  the  before 
ese  places  are 
lanneK 

ir  within  the 
e  being  about 
't  bank  of  the 

39,  range  30, 
nonee.  The 
stance,"  says 
it  is  divided 
ral  aspect  of 
II  tlie  \K)\m  of 
'wer  falls  the 
:y  feet.  The 
d  banks,  but 

jncsi'c  Falls, 
e  feet,  The 
L  of  tlie  river 


(ain  Cram,  of  tlie 


f\ 


Near  the  west  line  of  township  39,  range  29,  commence  the  Sandy 
rapids,  which  continue  for  more  than  a  mile  '^nd  a  half.  The  bed  of  the 
stream  is  rocky,  but  the  banks  are  lined  with  high  dunes  of  sand,  which 
make  this  portage,  which  is  on  the  left  bank,  the  most  arduojis  on  the 
Menomonee.     The  amount  of  fall  here  is  twenty-one  feet. 

In  the  same  township,  and  about  two  miles  below,  occur  the  Sturgeon 
falls.  The  descent  here,  in  the  distance  of  one  thousand  feet,  is  about  thir- 
teen feet.  The  river  is  contracted  within  a  span  of  eighty  feet,  and 
rushes  between  iKjrpendicular  walls  of  rock.  The  portage  is  on  the  left 
bank,  over  a  ridge  eighty-five  feet  above  the  stream,  at  the  foot  of  the 
rapids. 

Before  the  construction  of  the  dams  near  the  mouth,  the  sturgeon  as- 
cended the  river  to  this  point,  beyond  which  they  could  not  go.  Here 
the  Indians  were  wont  to  resort  in  great  numbers  to  fish,  and  the  remains 
of  their  camp-fires  are  to  be  seen  along  the  banks  at  short  intervals. 
Quiver  falls  are  situated  in  the  south  part  of  township  38,  range  28.  The 
descent  is  nine  feet.  The  portage,  one-fourth  of  a  mile  long,  is  on  the 
right  bank.  The  Pomenee  (Elbow)  falls  are  five  miles  below.  The 
principal  descent  is  about  eight  feet,  but  immediately  above  are  several 
ong  and  ditlicult  rapids.  The  portage  on  the  right  bank  is  a  mile  in 
extent.  A  short  distance  below  is  Chippewa  island,  (township  37, 
range  2P  ]  Between  this  point  and  the  junction  of  the  Brule  and  Machi- 
gamig  the  country  is  rugged  and  broken.  Numerous  sharp  ridges  of 
slate,  and  hornblende  and  feldspar  rocks  are  seen  aggregated  to- 
gether, without  much  system.  At  most  of  the  portages  bare  masses  of 
rock  are  exposed,  sometimes  precipitous,  but  oftener  worn  and  polished. 
The  soil  is  thin,  and  for  the  most  part  sterile.  Fires  have  swept 
through  the  woods  which  once  covered  the  surface,  so  effectually  as  to 
leave  hardly  a  living  tree.  Blackened  tmnks  rise  up  on  every  side  as  far 
as  the  eye  can  reach.  Over  this  dreary  waste  the  birch  and  aspen  have 
sprung  up,  and  seenj  to  struggle  to  gain  a  precarious  support. 

Below  Chippewa  island  the  soil  is  more  genial.  The  valley  is  occu- 
pied by  sandstones  and  limestones,  and  we  meet  with  no  sharp  ridges,  no 
exposures  of  rock,  over  large  areas;  but  the  country  stretches  out  into 
gently  rolling  plains,  traversed  by  occasional  ravines.  The  river  contains 
many  rapids,  but  no  falls. 

The  Menomonee  is  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  miles  in  length,  or 
about  two  hundred  including  the  Maciiiguinig.  The  whole  basin  em- 
braces an  area  of  not  less  than  twenty-eight  hundred  square  miles. 

For  the  purposes  of  navigation  it  is  comparatively  worthless,  but  it  af- 
fords an  indefinite  amount  of  water-power.  The  lower  portions  of  the 
valley  are  covered  with  extensive  tracts  of  pine,  which  are  beginning  to  be 
made  available. 

In  this  connexion  we  may  mention  the  St.  Mary's  river,  conn'^cting  to- 
gether the  two  lakes,  Superior  and  Huron.  It  is  about  sixty  tniles  in 
length,  flowing  first  a  few  degrees  north  of  east,  then  bending  abruptly, 
ami  flowing  a  few  degrees  east  of  south.  Tliroughout  its  whole  course 
it  occupies  the  line  of  junction  between  the  igneous  and  detrital  rocks, 
forcibly  illustrating  to  wiiat  an  extent  the  physical  fbLitiucs  of  a  country 


.:«„i 

ilv^at   oil  iivjiuic 


About  twenty  miles  from  the  outlet  of  Lake  Superior,- at  Saut  Ste.  Ma- 
rio, the  river  flows  over  a  sandstone  ledge  for  the  distance  of  tliree-fourllis 


8« 


D>oc.  No.  69. 


811  , 


\%. 


of  a  mile.  Tlie  descent  Is  between  eighteen  and  a  half  and  twenty -one 
feet,  dependent  on  the  stage  of  water  in  Lake  Superior.  Above  the  rapids 
the  river  shoals  gradually  from  its  banks,  and  the  water  is  not  sufficiently 
deep  to  fkiat  a  vessel  for  several  rods  from  the  shore.  The  banks  of  the 
St.  Mary's  are  low,  rising  in  no  place  over  twenty  feel  above  the  surface 
of  the  water.  Efforts  haj^e  been  made,  and  will  doubtless  be  renewed,  to 
Induce  the  government  to  construct  a  canal  around  these  rapids,  and 
thus  connect  the  commerce  of  Lake  Superior  with  that  of  the  lower 
lakes. 

This  connexion  is  much  to  be  desired,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  en- 
hanced value  communicated  to  the  public  domain  would  amply  repay 
the  expenses  of  the  work.  The  mere  construction  of  the  locks  is  not  all 
that  is  required.  It  will  be  necessary  to  extend  a  pier  into  the  river,  above 
the  rapids,  to  protect  the  works  and  insure  an  entrance  to  the  locks. 
This  pier  will  be  exposed  to  heavy  currents,  and  at  times  to  large  accu- 
mulations of  ice,  and  ought  to  be  constructed  of  the  firmest  materials,  and 
strongly  protected.  There  are  two  points  on  Lake  Superior,  easily  acces- 
sible, where  materials  of  the  most  enduring  character  may  be  obtained 
for  this  work.  Scovill's  Point,  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  Isle  Royale, 
affords  a  tough  crystalline  greenstone,  traversed  by  divisional  planes, 
which  would  assist  materially  in  the  quarrying.  Vessels  could  approach 
within  a  few  feet  of  the  rock,  and  be  in  a  sheltered  position  while  load- 
ing. 

The  Huron  islands,  composed  of  granite,  afford,  perhaps,  a  still  better 
material.  It  can  be  quarried  within  two  hundred  feet  of  the  water,  and 
delivered  on  a  vessel  by  means  of  an  inclined  plane  or  with  a  derrick. 
The  islands  afford  a  good  harbor  at  all  times.  This  rock  is  also  traversed 
by  divisional  seams,  which  will  essentially  aid  the  quarryman  in  getting 
it  out.  This  granite,  it  is  believed,  will  become  an  aiticle  of  shipment 
so  soon  as  there  is  a  free  communication  with  the  lower  lakes. 

The  mouths  of  many  of  thvs  smaller  streams  flowing  into  Lake  Superior 
are  silted  up  with  sand  and  gravel,  through  which  the  water  filters.  In 
other  cases,  where  the  waves  break,  for  the  most  part,  in  one  direction, 
the  streams  are  deflected  from  their  true  course,  and  run  parallel  to  the 
shore  for  a  long  distance,  until  the  accumulated  back-water  breaks 
through  the  barrier  and  makes  a  passage  to  the  lake. 


i 


1-1 


11 


Doc.  No.  60. 


ind  twenty -one 
bove  the  rapids 
not  snfficiendy 
e  banks  of  the 
ive  the  surface 
be  renewed,  to 
se  rapids,  and 
t  of  the  lower 

ed  that  the  en- 
d  amply  repay 
locks  is  not  all 
the  river,  above 
!  to  the  locks, 
to  large  accu- 
t  materials,  and 
)r,  easily  acccs- 
ay  be  obtained 
of  Isle  Royale, 
isional  planes, 
could  approach 
ion  while  load- 

)s,  a  still  better 
the  water,  and 
vith  a  dierrick. 
5  also  traversed 
man  in  getting 
le  of  shipment 
es. 

Lake  Superior 
Iter  filters.  In 
one  direction, 
parallel  to  the 
water  breaks 


Table  of  tht  principal  rivers  in  the  Lake  Superior  Land  District. 


Name. 


Montreal... 

Black 

Preaqu'Isle  ...... 

Iron 

Ontonaeon... 

West  Branch 

Ea8t  Branch 

Flint  Steel 

Fire  Steel 

Sleeping 

Misery 

Salmon  Trout. . . . . 

Eaele 

L.  Montreal 

Portage 

Sturgeon 

Pall 

Huron 

Dead  (DuMort)., 

Carp 

Chocolate 

Tequamenen 

St.  Mary's 

Carp  of  Michigan 

Pine 

Maaistee 

White  Pish 

Escanaba 

Fort 

Cedar 

Menomonee 

Brul€ 

Mequaeuoiecum. . . 
Maehigamig 


Descent. 


Fut. 


804 

850? 

850? 


900 


603 
535 


1,074 

1,064 

1,100 

1,000 

688 

530 

200 

4a 


Length. 


1,060 


1.049 
900? 


1,049 


MUea. 
94 
SO 
35 
25 
85 
50 
45 
35 
35 
15 
30 
13 
13 
35 
4 

65 
12 
20 
40 
40 
35 
65 
63 


Course. 


50 
90 
55 
75 
75 
60 
123 
60 
50 
70 


NW.. 
NW.. 

WW.. 

N 

NNW 

NE... 

NW.. 

NW. . 

NW.. 

NW.. 

NW.. 

N.  ... 

NW.. 

E..... 

SE 

N. 

N 

NNE.. 

E 

E 

WNW 
NE..... 
SE 


Aretk 
drained. 


Omlet. 


8q. 


«  •  •  •• 


ssw.. 

SSE... 
SE.... 
SE.... 
SE.... 
SE.... 
ESE.. 
SSE.. 
SSW. 


miUs, 
420 
250 
380 

75 
460 
600 
350 

70 

85 
100 

75 

40 

15 

SO 

200) 
575  i 

75 
100 
200 

20 
100 
600 


1,300 
450 
575 
400 
390 

1,200 
320 
575 
800 


Lake  Superior. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
Ontonofon. 

DcC 
Lake  Superior. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do.  , 

Do.  , 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
Portage  lake. 
Keweenaw  bay. 
Lake  Superior. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do.  '' 

Do. 
Lake  Huron. 
Lake  Michigan 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
Menomonee. 
Brule. 
Menomonee. 


■.I  I J 
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Doc.  No.  e^i 


> 


Mountaipi] 


t  '     fry 

u  ,3JV 


i  ' ' 


Mountains  perform  an  important  part  in  the  economy  of  nature.  While 
rivers  Itave  been  aptly  compared  to  the  veins  and  arteries  in  the  human 
system,  conveying  Ufo  and  energy  to  the  extremities,  mountains,  with 
equal  propriety,  may  be  Ukeued  to  the  spinal  column  which  supports  that 
system,  giving  it  form  and  comeliness. 

They  condense  the  floating  vapors  and  cause  them  to  descend  in  grate* 
ful  showers.  They  are  the  repositories  of  most  of  the  metals  used  in  the 
arts.  Thejc  determine  the  direction  of  streams — they  prescribe  the  forms  of 
continents. 

The  mountains  of  this  region  nowhere  attain  an  alpine  height.  They 
occasionally  occur  isolated,  but  are  oftener  arranged  in  groups,  or  inparal* 
lel  ridges. 

1.  Two  granite  belts  occur  in  the  Northwest — one  forming  the  axis  be- 
tween the  waters  oi  Lake  Superior  and  Hudson's  bay;  the  other  between 
Lake  Superior  on  the  north  and  Lake  Michigan  and  tlie  Mississippi  riyer 
on  the  south.  'Vhe  outline  of  the  Canada  range  ia  N.  60°  E.,  though 
subject  to  minor  irregularities.  It  forms  the  rim  of  the  Canada  shore  for 
more  than  two-thirds  of  its  extent.  The  sum  » its  of  this  range  are  gen- 
erally rounded,  and  rarely  elevated  1 ,5U0  fee^  :it  ove  the  lake. 

On  the  southern  shore,  a  belt  of  granite  a^.pri-aches  the  lake  near  Dead 
river,  and  thence  stretches  westward,  sinkiiig  down  into  a  somewhat 
broken  plain  southwest  of  Keweenaw  bay.  Its  widest  expansion  is 
about  thirty  miles.  This  belt  constitutes  the  Huron  mountains, 
which  in  places  attain  an  elevation  of  1,200  feet  above  the  lake. 
They  do  not  range  in  continuous  chains,  but  exist  in  groups,  radiating 
from  a  common  centre,  presenting  a  series  of  knobs,  risiug  one 
above  another,  until  the  summit-level  is  attained.  Their  outline  is 
rounded  or  waving-^tl*  ir  slope  giudual.  The  scenery  is  tame  and  unin- 
teresting. Hemmed  iu  by  these  knobs,  it  is  not  unusual  to  find  nu- 
merous lakes  and  meado\7s  covered  with  grass,  forming  an  agreeable  fea- 
ture in  tlie  landscape,  liiose  meadows  appear  at  one  titne  to  have  been 
lakes,  which  have  been  filled  with  the  detritus  brought  down  from  th« 
surrounding  hills,  or  drained  in  consequence  of  the  water  having  worn 
down  the  barriers  which  existed  at  their  outlets.  Towards  the  westeu'n  ex- 
tremity of  the  district,  the  granite  reappears  in  low  ridges,  and  crosses 
the  Montreal  within  twelve  miles  of  its  mouth.  Tliere  are  subordinate 
patches  of  granite  in  other  portions  of  the  district,  attaining  no  great  ele- 
vation, which  will  be  described  iu  the  detailed  report. 

The  metamorphic  belt  folded  around  the  granite  is  traversed  by  numer- 
ous detached  ridges  of  hornblende  and  feldspar  rocks,  ranging  in  E.  and 
W.  direction,  and  rarely  rising  more  than  200  feet  above  the  surround- 
ing country,  and  present  a  more  rugged  aspect  than  the  granite.  A 
quartz  range  starts  from  the  lake  shore  at  the  mouth  of  Carp  river, 
and  extends  westwardly  beyond  Teal  lake.  Its  outlines  are  sharp  and 
well-defined,  its  escarpments  bold,  with  fragments  of  rock  strewn  along 
its  base.  The  boundaries  of  this  group  are  defined  ou  tlie  accompanying 
maps. 

2.  A  trap  range  starts  from  the  head  of  Keweenaw  Point  and  runs  west 
twenty  miles;  then,  curving  to  the  south v/est,  crosses  Portage  lake  near  its 
head,  and  the  Ontonagon  river  twelve  miles  from  its  mouth,  and  is 
thence  prolonged  into  Wisconsin.  Its  length  is  more  than  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles;  its  width,  from  one  to  twelve.    Between  Iron  and  Presqu*- 


lature.  While 
in  the  human 

)iintains,  with 
supporta  that 

;cend  in  grate* 
,la  used  in  the 
)e  the  forms  of 

eight.  They 
)s,  or  in  parol* 

ig  the  axis  be- 
Jther  between 
ississippi  river 
^°  E.,  though 
lada  shore  for 
atige  are  gen- 

kc  near  Dead 

a  somewhat 

expansion  is 

mountains,  | 
ve   the   lake.    ' 
jps,  radiating    i 
,  rising   one    i 
ir  outline  is 
me  and  unin- 
[  to  find  nu- 
igreeable  fea- 
to  have  been 
iwn  from  th« 
having  worn 
e  westei'n  ex- 
and  crosses 
subordinate 
no  great  ele- 

id  by  numer- 
g  in  E.  and 
le  surround- 
granite.  A 
Carp  river, 
e  sharp  and 
;trewn  along 
companying 

id  runs  west 

ith,  and  is 
me  hundred 
nd  Presqu*- 


Boc.  No.  69.  3J» 

Tsle  nvcrs  a  spur  sTioots  off  jn  the  form  of  a  ctcm  .  nt,  const     ting  t^ 
Porcupine  mountains.    Another  spur  branches  off  from  the  main  chain 
the  south,  and  is  prolonged  nearly  parallel  with  it  for  twenty  miles.    Tl 
belt  is  made  up  of  parallel  ranges,  presenting  step-like  or  scalar  decliviti*  « 
cyi  the  side  opposite  the  lake,  while  the  other  consists  of  gradual  sir 
Mount  Houghton,  near  the  head  of  Keweenaw  Point,  rises  up  liku  a 
dome,  to  the  height  of  eight  hundred  and  eighty-four  feet:  the  Bohe- 
mian mountain,  near  Lac  la  Belle,  is  little  inferior  in  height.     The  valley 
of  Eagle  river,  on  the  northwest,  is  bounded  by  abrupt,  overhanging 
cliffs,  some  of  which  rise  to  the  height  of  five  hundred  feet  above  the 
surrounding  country. 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  forks  of  the  Ontonagon  the  cliffs  are  equally  bold , 
and  from  their  summits  the  eye  has  an  almost  unlimited  range.  To  the 
west,  the  trap  range  is  distinctly  marked  for  many  miles,  and  the  west 
branch  of  that  stream  flows  along  its  base.  The  highest  and  most  in> 
posing  cliffs  are  north  and  east  of  Agogebic  lalce.  Farther  west,  the 
ranges  are  less  precipitous  and  more  irregular,  much  of  the  country 
traversed  by  these  rocks  consisting  of  rolling  table-lands. 

The  highest  elevation  attained  by  the  Porcupine  mountains  is  one 
thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty  feet.  A  remarkable  gorge  occurs  in 
township  61,  ranges  42  and  43.  This  gorge  lies  about  two  miles  south  of 
the  lake,  and  in  that  distaufe  the  ground  rises  about  a  thousand  feet. 
Suddenly  the  traveller  finds  himself  on  the  brink  of  a  precipice  five  hun- 
dred feet  deep,  at  the  base  of  which  lies  a  small  lake,  so  sheltered  and 
hemmed  in  by  the  surrounding  mountains  that  the  winds  rarely  rut&e  its 
surface.  Gloomy  evergreens  skirt  its  shores,  whose  long  and  pendent 
branches  are  so  faithfully  reflected  on  the  surface  that  the  eye  can  with 
difficulty  determine  where  the  water  ends  and  the  shore  begins.  From 
this  lake  flows  the  Carp  river,  and  the  beholder  occasionally  catches  a 
glimpse  of  its  waters  as  they  wind  through  the  narrow  valley  towards  the 
great  reservoir.  To  the  west,  and  extending  for  five  miles,  he  sees  a  per- 
pendicular wall  three  hundred  feet  in  height — occasionally  broken  through 
by  a  transverse  gorge— at  the  base  of  which  are  numerous  fragments, 
which  have  tumbled  from  the  cliffs  above.  Still  further  down  is  to  be 
seen  the  rich  foliage  of  the  maple  intermingled  with  the  dark  green  of  the 
fir  and  cedar,  and  still  beyond  succeeds  a  level  plain,  stretching  out  for 
•  twenty  miles,  and  clothed  with  a  dense  growth  of  trees;  while  in  the  di»- 
tance  the  Black  river  hills  are  seen,  blue  and  indistinct,  resting  like  a 
cloud  upon  the  horizon. 

That  portion  of  the  district  occupied  by  the  detrital  rocks  rarely  rises 
three  hundred  feet  above  the  lake.  It  is  not  unusual  to  see  ridges  of  sand 
and  clay  forming  considerable  elevations.  The  Clrand  Sable  is  a  re- 
markable accumulation  of  this  character,  rising  to  the  height  of  three 
hundred  and  forty-five  feet.  Point  Iroquois,  at  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  is 
three  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  height,  and  composed  wholly  of  transported 
materials. 


36 


Doc.  No.  69- 


■|i 


ill 


jy^c  following  list  comprises  the  heists  of  some  of  t/te  principal  points  in 

.  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Superior.     The  surface  of  the  lake  i$  assumed  as 

.    the  baseiine,  which  is  b27  feet  above  tide-water. 


lit  ;mt 


■Mrtbcrn  ihort  {frvm  Ba^tld^t  chart.) 


I     « 


Pcet. 

Pieiilnnd ,. 830 

McKay'a  mountain r 1,000 

Thunder  eop« r .■ 1, 350 

He  lenace  (estimated) r 1,300 

Les  Petita  Ecril b50 

Picisland ,....      TCO 

800 

70U 


Michipicoten  ialund..  . 
Oros  Cap  (eatimated). 


KneemaxD  Point,  approximately  determintd  by  barometir  rmder  Dr.  Jaeksm. 


Township  58,  range  28,  southwent  quarter  section  1,  cong]omerat«  liJge . . . . 

Do do section  5,  Man^anenn  laKe 

Do do southwestern  quarter  sect  ion  5,  trap  range 

Do do line  between  12  and  13 

Do do southwest  quarter  of  18 .,.., 

Do do line  between  19  and  20. 

Do do southwest  quarter  of  20 , 

Township  59,  range  28,  Brock  way's  mountain 

Township  58,  range  29,  section  14,  Montreal  river 

Townsihip  58,  bet'vecn  ranses  33  and  24,  Mount  Houghton c 

Township  5S),  range  29,  Bonemian  mount,  at  Lac  la  Delle , . , 

Township  58,  range  30,  conglomerate  ridge,  back  of  Grand  Marais 

Do do between  sections  9  and  lU,  trap  ridge 

Do do do. 15  and  10,  trap  nUKe 

Do do do.......  13  and  16, Little  Montreol  river.., 

I       Do do northeast  corner  of  section  21 

Do....     ..do northeast  corner  of  section  28 

Do do northeast  corner  of  section  33 

Township  57,  range  3Q^  between  sections  5  and  six  near  Gratiot  lake 

Township  58,  range  31,  southwest  quarter  section  II,  Copper  Falls  mine  .., 

Do do..... south  line  of  section  14 

Do.. do section  24,  Northwest  mine 

Do........ do section  30,  Phoenix  mine 

Do do section  36,  south  boundary 

Township  57,  rauge  31,  section  1,  trap  rans;e 

Do do section  1,  south  boundary ,. 

Township  58,  range  33,  southwest  quarter  section  36,  Cliff  mine.. . , , 

Do do office 

Township  57,  range  32,  northwest  quarter  section  L  North  American  mine  < 

Do do i9outh  west  quarter  section  2,  Albion  bluff. 

Do do northwest  quarter  secton  11,  Albion  min* 

y      Do..... ...do.  ....office .......^. 

Do do south  boundary  of  28 

JDo do south  boundary  of  33 

Township  56,  range  32,  section  7,  Forsyth  mine ...f 


641 

136 
307 
467 
252 
330 
370 
Oil 
284 
884 
864 
659 
316 
730 
535 
550 
568 
696 
S94 
225 
825 
630 
247 
749 
843 
611 
588 
390 
395 
800 
647. 

388 
475 
520 


M 


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'pal  points  in 
s  assumed  as 


Peel. 

....  850 

....  1,000 

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. . . .  t:50 

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....  800 

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GU 

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475 
520 


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w. 


CHAPTER  II. 


CLIMATE^ 


Ohjetts  erntraced.— Meteorology.— ^ff^ects  of  the  lakes  in  equalizing  the 
temperature. — Meteorological  registers,  at  various  stations. — Mean  an- 
nual temperature,  and  that  of  summer  andimnter. — Amount  ofraih. — 
Course  of  the  winds. — Comparison  of  the  climate  in  equal  latitudes  in 
Europe. — Character  of  the  vegetation. — Ranoe  of  the  cerealia. —  Os- 
dilations  in  the  lakes. —  The  cause. — Periodic  rise — Temperature  arid 
transparency  of  the  tcater  of  Lake  Superior. — Evaporation. — Mirage. — 
Variation  of  refraction. — Frosts. —  Thunder-storms. — Auroras. 

Meteorology. — In  treating  of  the  climate  of  this  region,  we  shall  use  that 
term  in  its  most  extended  sense,  as  comprehending,  according  to  Hum- 
boldt, all  the  changes  in  tlie  atmosphere  which  seriously  affect  our  organs — 
as  temperature,  humidity,  variations  in  the  barometrical  pressure,  the  calm 
state  of  the  atmosphere  or  the  action  of  opposite  currents  of  winds,  the 
amount  of  electric  tension,  the  purity  of  the  atmosphere  or  its  admixture 
with  more  or  less  noxious  gaseous  exhalations,  and,  finally,  the  degree  of 
ordinary  transparency  and  clearness  of  the  sky,  which  is  not  only  import- 
ant with  respect  to  the  increased  radiation  of  the  earth,  the  organic  de- 
velopment of  plants,  and  the  ripening  of  fuits,  but  also  with  reference 
to  its  influence  on  the  feelings  and  mental  condition  of  men.* 

To  this  great  physicist  science  is  indebted  for  having  first  suggested 
a  system  of  lines,  called  isothermal,  isotheral,  and  isochimenal,  con- 
necting those  places  where  the  mean  summer,  winter,  and  annual  tem- 
peratures have  been  ascertained.  These  lines  are  by  no  means  parallel, 
various  causes  conspiring  to  produce  divergencies — such  as  altitude  above 
the  sea,  the  geographical  configuration  of  a  country,  the  presence  or 
absence  of  large  bodies  of  water  and  of  mountain  chains,  the  purity  of  the 
sky,  and  the  prevailing  direction  of  the  winds. 

Isothermal  lines  define  the  heat  and  cold  of  the  earth.  The  line  59°  F. 
traverses  the  latitude  of  43°  in  western  Europe,  but  descends  to  latitude 
36°  in  eastern  America.  The  isothermal  line  of  41°  F.  passes  from  lati- 
tude 60°  in  western  Europe  to  latitude  48°  in  eastern  America. 

The  presence  of  so  vast  a  body  of  water  as  is  afforded  by  the  Ameri- 
can lakes  modifies  the  range  of  the  thermometer,  lessening  the  intensity 
of  the  cold  in  the  winter  and  of  the  heat  in  the  summer.  By  the  freezing  of 
the  water,  a  great  volume  of  heat  is  evolved,  and  the  intense  cold  of  the 
northern  winds  is  somewhat  mitigated  in  sweeping  over  the  open  lakes. 
In  the  summer,  when  the  sun,  often  with  unobscured  lustre,  shines  for 
sixteen  hours  in  twenty-four,  the  intensity  of  the  heat  is  modified  by  the 
breezes  which  are  cooled  in  their  passage  over  the  surface  of  the  lakes, 
the  water  of  which  is  always  at  a  low  temperature. 

To  show  the  equalizing  effects  of  the  lakes  on  the  climate,  we  need 

*Asie  Centralc — Tome  III. 


M 


Sbc.<Ko.  6dl 


.! 


only  refer  to  the  mean  temperature  of  Fort  Howard,  on  Greea  bay,"  and 
Fort  Snelling,  on  the  Mississippi:  •■■  ■  •  ^■ 

Latitude.       Mean  T.     Winter.    SummerT.  Range  of  Ther. 

Fort  Howard      -        -    44°  40'      44°.3      20°.5      67°.7   —16  +  99° 
Fort  Snelling      -        -    44°  53'      44°.8      16°.3      72°.0   — 23 -f-115° 

Thus,  during ,  the  winter,  the  mean  temperature  at  the  former  post  is 
higher;  but  during  the  summer  it  is  lower,  while  the  annual  temperature 
is  nearly  the  same.  The  former  is  situated  in  the  proximity  of  large 
bodies  of  water,  which  essentially  modify  the  temperature;  while  the  lat- 
ter is  in  the  midst  of  a  vast  plain,  with  no  mountain  chains  to  break  the 
force  of  the  winds. 


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Doc.  No.  69. 


45 


Frrtm  these  tables  we  derive  the  following  results  :  That  the  mean  an- 
nual temperature  of  Fort  Brady  is  nearly  two  degrees  lower  than  that  of 
Fort  Wilkins,  although  the  latter  post  is  nearly  a  degree  farther  north. 
Tnis  difference  arises  from  the  insular  position  of  Keweenaw  Point,  which 
is  surrounded  on  three  sides  by  water. 

That,  while  the  annual  ratio  of  rain  which  falls  at  Fort  Brady  is  29.5 
inches,  at  Fort  Howard  it  exceeds  35  inches — an  excess  which  cannot  be 
accounted  for  by  the  difference  in  the  mean  temperature  of  the  two  places, 
but  results  from  the  prevailing  direction  of  the  winds;  for  while  the  N. 
and  NW.  winds  prevail  at  the  former  post  for  more  than  one-third  of  the 
year,  the  S.  and  SW.  prevail  for  a  longer  period  at  the  latter.* 

That,  while  there  are  more  rainy  days  at  the  former  post — the  ratio  being 
as  118  to  86 — the  showers  at  the  latter  are  more  copious. 

The  direction  of  the  winds  is  undoubtedly  determined,  in  some  degree, 
by  the  configi^atiori  of  the  country,  pursuing  the  courses  of  the  lakes. 

The  observnonsat  Fort  Wilkins  and  Mackinac  do  not  extend  through 
i  a  sufficient  number  of  years  to-  enable  us  safely  to  institute  comparisons. 
So  far  as  relates  to  the  annual  amount  of  rain,  they  are  defectiver 

In  the  subjoined  table  we  have  given  the  mean  temperature  of  the  year, 
land  of  the  winter  and  summer,  in  corresponding  degrees  of  latitude  in 
j western  and  southern  Europe;  also,  the  latitudes  of  places  where  the 
jseveral  lines  of  temperature  correspond  with  those  of  the  stations  before 
[given. 

I  The  first  number  in  the  column  of  temperature  represents  the  mean 
[annual  temperature;  that  which  stands  in  the  place  ol^  a  numerator,  the 
[mean  temperature  of  the  winter,  while  the  denominator  represents  the 
lean  temperature  of  the  summer.  The  European  observations  are  from 
Jaron  Humboldt's  tables. 
From  these  observations  it  would  appear  that  the  lines  of  equal  tem- 
erature  on  the  western  coast  of  Europe,  without  reference  to  the  elevation 
ibove  the  sea-level,  are  about  13°  farther  north  than  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
lakes.  The  climate  at  Fort  Brady,  during  the  whole  season,  corresponds 
In  a  remarkable  degree  with  that  of  St  Petersburg;  indeed,  the  difference 
bf  temperature  is  less  than  between, Fort  Brady  and  Fort  Wilkins.  While 
jhe  hills  in  the  reg'-'*"  of  Fort  Brady  support  a  dwarfish  growth  of  tere- 
jtinthines,  (resinous  trees,)  those  in  the  vicinity  of  Nantes,  in  a  nearly 
)rresponding  latitude  in  Europe,  are  covered  with  the  vine. 

^  *  Humboldt  has  given  the  following  as  the  proportionul  quantity  of  rain  in  different  latitudes : 
.    Mean  annual  depth  .......g^  incl  t*> 


<■ 
It 


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II 


II 


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29     " 
17     " 


46 


Doc.  No.  69. 


''i.  i 


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m. 


,ii: 


Table  showiri!^  the  mean  temperature  of  the  year,  and  of  winter  and  sum* 
'  mcr,  in  cortesponding  latitudes  in  Europe  and  America. 


Latitude. 


■A    I' 


470  27' 
480  50' 
C0«     27' 


4fiO  30' 
4?>  13' 
59«     5G' 


450    50' 

450  as* 

590     51' 


440  40' 
440  50' 
hfP    41' 


Arfjoining  the  great  lakes- 
beigbt  above  sea. 


Port  Wilkins— 647., 


Port  Brady— 640. 


Fort  Mackinac— 728. 


Fort  Howard— 600 . 


Europ»*-height  above  sea. 


Paris— 222. 
Abo— 0... 


Nantes— 0 

St.  Petersburg— 0 


Milan— 390. 
Upsol— 0 . . . 


Bordeaux — 0. . . . 
Copenhagen — 0 . 


Mean  tempera- 
ture of  the 
yenr,  of  sum- 
mer and  win- 
ter. 


410.4 


51°.  6 


400. 2 


2P.1 

610.4 
370.8 

640.6 
200.8 

3S0.3 


390.8 


540.6 


380,8 


170.6 

6lO  7 
400.4 

68C  5 
17°.  6 

620.6 


410.6 


550. 7 


420.8 


2G0.5 

630.7 
360.2 

730.4 
240.9 

60O.2 


440.3 


570.2 


450.6 


200.5 

670.7 

420.8 

710  2 
30O.7 

6^0.6 


Differ. 
ei)c«. 


100.  a 


U0.4 


140.8 


150.8  i 


1 


140.  r 


120.9  ■; 


.120.3' 


11°.! 


thai 
ada] 
latit 
prec 

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IS  or 
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dim 

A] 
the  s 
the  s 
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whic 
I    injur 
again 
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tempe 
are  f;i 
produ 
At] 
rainy 
Th^ 
at  For 
can  no 
of  the 
may  \ 
at  For 
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of  the 
vast  ni 
curling 
presset 
ofseve 
fluctua 
tectan 
on  the 
be  ind( 
The; 
have  n 
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iter  and  sunt' 
rica. 

3L_- 


empera- 

of    the 

,  ofsum- 

ind  win- 


DifFer* 
ence. 


10O.3 


21°.  1 

61°. 4 
370.8 

640.6 

20O.8  , , 

380.3 


no.6  1 


61°  ^ 
40^.4 


U40.8  ;j 


,8 


68^  5 
17°.  6 


62°.  6 


150.81 


200.5 

63°.  7 
36°.  2 

730.4 
240.9 

60°.  2 


'.3 


>.2 


120.9^ 


.12°.S' 


200.5 

670.7 
42°.  8 

71°  2 
30O.7     , 

6 ^ll«.l 

630.6 


Doc.  Jfo.  6ft. 


47 


The  cereaUa,  or  common  grain,  such  as  wheaf,  irjre,  oafg,  and  barley, 
thrive  where  the  mean  annual  temperature  descends  to  28°  F.,  provided 
that  of  summer  rise  to  62°  or  63°.  The  rapid  growth  of  barley  and  oats 
adapts  them  to  the  short  summers  of  the  north;  they  are  found  as  high  as 
latitude  69°  30',  ir  '  .pland,  along  with  the  potato.  Wheat,  which  is  a 
preCfiious  crop,  and  little  cultivated  above  58°  in  western  Europe,  yields 
good  returns  in  the  temperate  zone,  when  the  mean  heat,  while  the  grain 
is  on  the  ground,  is  65°;  but  if  no  more  than  46°,  none  of  the  cerealia 
come  to  maturity.*    Indian  corn  is  a  precarious  crop  beyond  latitude  46**. 

From  the  tables  above  given  it  will  be  seen  that  the  temperatiire  of  this 
climate  is  favorable  to  the  growth  of  the  cerealia. 

Annual  plants,  remarks  Sir  Jo|in  Hooker,  which  require  heat  during 
the  summer  to  ripen  their  seeds,  and  which  pass  fie  winter  in  torpidity,  in 
the  state  of  grain,  indifferent  to  the  intensity  of  cold,  abound  most  in  those 
regions  where  the  extremities  are  greatest;  whilst  the  perennial  plants^ 
which  can  better  dispense  with  the  maturing  of  their  seeds,  and  which  are 
injured  by  the  severities  of  winter,  affect  the  temperate  climates.  Of  these 
again,  those  kinds  Avhioh  have  deciduous  leaves  accommodate  them- 
selves best  to  unequal  temperatures;  whilst  the  individuals  on  which  the 
foliage  remains,  or  evergreens,  give  the  preference  to  districts  where  the 
temperature  is  more  constantly  equal.  Thus,  while  the  shores  of  the  lake 
are  fiinged  with  spruce,  balsam,  fir,  and  cedar,  the  interior  of  the  district 
produces  the  maple,  the  yellow  birch,  and  the  ash. 

At  Fort  Brady,  the  annual  ratio  of  fair  days  is  168;  of  cloudy  days,  77; 
rainy  days,  71;  of  snowy  days,  47. 

The  average  amount  of  rain  which  falls  at  Fort  Brady  is  29.5  inches; 
at  Fort  Howard,  35.7  inches.  These  results  exhibit  a  discrepancy  which 
cannot  be  fully  accounted  for  by  the  difference  in  the  mean  temperature 
of  the  two  places.  The  prevailing  direction  of  the  wir  ds  at  the  two  places 
may  be  the  true  cause.  At  Fort  Brady  northwest  winds  prevail,  while 
at  Fort  Howard  southerly  winds  predominate. 

Phenomena  of  the  waters. — Lake  Superior  possesses  all  of  the  sublimity 
of  the  ocean.  In  gazing  upon  its  surface,  whether  stretched  out  like  a 
vast  mirror,  reflecting  the  varying  tints  of  the  sky,  or  ruffled  by  gently- 
curling  waves,  or  lashed  by  the  fury  of  the  storm,  the  beholder  is  alike  im- 
pressed with  a  feeling  of  the  grand  and  th3  infinite.  During  a  residence 
of  several  summers  on  its  borders,  our  i  ttention  has  been  directed  to  the 
fluctuations  in  the  level  of  its  waters;  and,  while  we  have  failed  to  de» 
tect  any  ebb  and  flow  corresponding  with  the  tidal  action,  we  have, 
on  the  other  hand,  noticed  certain  extraordinary  swells  which  appear  to 
be  independent  of  the  action  of  the  sun  and  moon. 

These  risings  attracted  the  attention  of  the  earliest  voyageurs,  and  they 
have  not  failed  to  record  their  observ£\tions  with  a  minuteness  worthy  of 
coLimendation. 

h  the  Relation  for  1670-'7l,Dablon  uses  the  following  language:  "As 
to  tho  tides,  it  is  difficult  to  lay  down  any  correct  rule.  At  one  time  we 
haveliund  the  motion  of  the  waters  to  be  regular,  and  at  others  extremely 
"actuating.    We  have  noticed,  however,  that  at  full  moon  and  new  moon 


•  Murray's  Encyclopaedia  of  Geography,  vol.  I. 


4? 


Mc.  No.  m. 


i 


the  tides  change  once  a  day  for  eight  or  ten  days,  while,  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  time  there  is  hardly  any  change  perceptible.  Three  things 
are  remarkable:  1st,  that  the  currents  sot  almost  constantly  in  one  direc- 
tion, viz:  towards  the  lake  of  the  Illinois,  (Michigan,)  which  does  not  pre- 
vent their  ordinary  rise  and  fall;  2d,  that  they  almost  invariably  set  agahist 
the  wind — sometimes  with  as  much  force  as  the  tides  at  Quebec — and  we 
have  seen  ice  moving  agairutihQ  wind  as  fast  as  boats  under  full  sail;  3d, 
that  among  these  currents  we  have  discovered  the  emission  oi  a  quantity 
of  water  which  seems  to  spring  up  from  the  bottom  ?" 

He  supposes  that  this  results  from  an  underground  discharge  from  Lake 
Supeixor,  and  asks,  if  otherwise,  what  becomes  of  the  waters  of  Lake  Su- 
perior, and  whence  come  the  waters  of  Lakes  Huron  and  Michigan  ? 

In  the  Relation  for  the  year  1671-'72,  Father  Andre  thus  speaks  of  the 
movements  of  the  waters:  "1  had  not  partaken  of  the  opinion  of  those  who 
believe  that  the  lake  of  tne  Hurons  has  an  ebb  and  flow  like  the  sea,  be- 
cause I  had  not  noticed  anything  very  regular  during  the  time  I  passed 
on  its  borders;  but  I  began  to  suspect  that  there  might  be  tides  in  the  bay 
of  the  Skunks  (Green  bay)  after  having  crossed  Wild  Rice  river,  (Menom- 
onee.)  We  had  left  our  canoe  afloat,  the  weather  being  calm.  The 
following  morning  we  were  very  much  surprised  to  find  it  on  dry  ground. 
I  was  the  more  astonished,  since  I  had  noticed  that  the  lake  had  been  for 
a  long  time  tranquil.  From  that  day  1  resolved  to  investigate  the  causes. 
The  first  thing  I  determined  was,  that  the  contrary  winds,  although  mod- 
erate, did  not  prevent  the  flux  and  reflux.  I  noticed,  besides,  that  in  the 
river  (Fox)  which  empties  into  the  head  of  the  bay  the  tide  rises  and  sinks 
twice  in  somewhat  more  than  tweiity  four  hours.  The  ordinary  rise  is 
one  foot;  the  highest  tide  I  saw  caused  the  river  to  rise  three  feet,  but  it 
was  accompanied  by  a  violent  northeaster.  Unless  the  northwest  winds 
be  very  strong,  they  do  not  prevent  the  river  from  flowing  down ;  so  that 
the  discharge  is  from  the  middle  of  the  bay — the  water  rising  at  each  end, 
according  to  the  hours  of  the  tide.  ' 

"  We  must  not  be  surprised  to  find  this  flux  and  reflux  stronger  at  the 
head  of  the  bay  than  on  Lake  Huron  or  Illinois ;  for,  supposing  the  tide  to 
be  only  one  inch  in  those  lakes,  it  must  of  course  be  more  marked  in  this 
bay,  which  is  from  fifteen  to  twenty  leagues  long  and  from  five  to  six  in 
width,  and  grows  narrower  and  narrower,  whereby  the  water,  being  re- 
duced to  a  small  space  at  the  head  of  the  bay,  must  necessarily  rise  much 
more  than  in  the  lakes,  where  the  space  is  the  widest." 

The  late  Governor  Clinton  collected  a  mass  of  evidence  relating  to  these 
sudden  risings,  which  is  embodied  in  a  memoir  communicated  to  the  New 
York  Literary  and  Philosophical  Society;*  but,  as  it  is  not  generally  acces- 
sible, we  will  avail  ourselves  of  the  most  important  facts. 

L'Hontanf  records  the  following  incident:  *'0n  the  29th  of  May,  1689, 
we  came  to  a  little  deep  sort  of  river,  which  disembogues  at  a  place  where 
the  water  of  the  lake  (Michigan)  swells  three  feet  high  in  twelve  hours, 
and  decreases  as  much  in  the  same  compass  of  time.  Our  tarrying  there 
three  or  four  day s^ gave  me  an  opportunity  of  making  the  remark."      , 


•Vq!=  \l,  p.  L 

fVoj^e  to  AmericR,  vol.  il. 


Doc.  No.  ^9. 


49 


uring  the  re- 
Three  things 
in  one  direc- 
does  not  pre- 
ly  set  agahist 
bee — and  we 
full  sail;  3d, 
ol  a  quantity 

rge  from  Lake 
1  of  Lake  Su- 
chigan? 
speaks  of  the 
of  those  who 
e  the  sea,  be- 
ime  I  passed 
ies  in  the  bay 
ver,  (Meoom- 
;  calm.    The 
n  dry  ground. 
3  had  been  for 
ite  the  causes, 
although  mod- 
es, that  iH  the 
rises  and  sinks 
»rdinary  rise  is 
ree  feet,  but  it 
thwest  winds 
own;  so  that 
a  at  each  end, 
■i  V.,./.i  - ... 
itronger  at  the 
ing  the  tide  to 
narked  in  this 
ive  to  six  in 
Iter,  being  re- 
•ily  rise  much 

ating  to  these 

ted  to  the  New 

nerally  accea- 

of  May,  1689, 
a  place  where 
twelve  hours, 
tarrying  there 
smark." 


%  j 


I 


Charlevoix,*  who  traversed  the  lakes  nearly  a  century  ago,  in  reference 
to  Lake  Ontario,  says:  "I  observed  that  in  tliishke,  and  I  am  told  tliat 
the  same  thing  happens  in  all  the  rest,  there  is  a  sort  of  llux  and  relliix, 
almost  instantaneous — the  rocks  near  the  banks  being  covered  with  water, 
and  again  uncovered,  several  times  in  the  space  of  .a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
even  if  the  surface  of  the  lake  was  very  calm,  with  scarce  a  breath  of 
wind.  After  reflecting  some  tin:e  on  this  appearance,  I  imas^inedit  7cas 
oviiisc  to  spring's  at  the  bottom  of  the  lakc^an'Un  thr.  shoi.fc  nf  their  cuvnnits 
mth  those  of  the  rivers  which  fill  into  them  from  all  dileSj  and  thus  pro- 
duce tfiose  intermitting  motions  V 

Mackenzie,  who  wrote  in  l789,t  remarks:  "A  very  curious  phenomenon 
was  observed  at  the  Grand  Portage,  on  Lake  Superior,  for  which  no 
obvious  cause  could  be  assigned.  The  water  v/ithdrew  v;ilh  great  pre- 
cipitation, leaving  the  ground  dry,  that  had  never  before  been  visible — the 
fell  being  equal  to  four  perpendicular  feet — and  rushing  back  with  great 
velocity  above  the  common  mark.  It  continued  thus  rising  and  fuiliug 
for  several  hours,  gradually  decreasing  until  it  stopped  at  its  usual 
height." 

The  following  incident  is  related  as  having  happened  to  Colonel  Brad- 
street,  who  commanded  an  expedition  .Igainst  the  western  Indians  iu 
1764:  "  In  returning  by  way  of  Lake  Erie,  when  about  to  land  the  troops 
one  evening,  a  sudden  swell  ot  the  lake,  without  any  visible  cause,  de- 
stroyed several  of  his  boats;  but  no  lives  were  lost.  Tiiis  extraordinary 
event  was  looked  upon  as  the  precursor  of  a  storm;  and  accordingly  one 
soon  occurred,  which  lasted  several  days." 

The  following  occurrence  is  related  by  Governor  Clinton,  in  the  memoir 
before  referred  to:  "On  the  30th  of  May,  1823,  a  little  after  sunset.  Lake 
Erie,  on  the  British  side,  was  observed  to  take  a  sudden  and  extraordinary 
rise,  the  weather  being  fine  and  clear,  and  the  lake  calm  and  smooth.  It 
was  principally  observed  at  the  mouths  of  Otter  and  Kettle  creeks,  which 
are  twenty  miles  apart.  At  Otter  creek,  it  came  in  without  the  least  previ- 
ous inthnation,  in  a  swell  of  nine  feet  perpendicular  height,  as  was  after- 
wards ascertained,  rushed  violently  up  the  channel,  drove  a  schooner 
of  35  tons  burden  from  her  mooiiugs,  threw  her  upon  high  ground,  and 
rolledover  the  ordinary  beach  into  the  woods,  completely  inundating  all 
of  the  adjacent  flats.  This  was  followed  by  two  others  of  equal  height, 
which  caused  the  creek  to  retrograde  a  mile  and  a  half,  and  to  overflow  its 
banks,  where  water  never  before  was  seen,  by  seven  or  eight  feet.  The 
noise  occasioned  by  its  rushing  with  such  rapidity  was  truly  astonishing- 
It  was  witnessed  by  a  number  of  persons. 

"At  Kettle  creek,  several  persons  were  drawings  fish  net  in  the  lake, 
when  suddenly  tliey  saw  the  water  coming  upon  them  in  the  mannc- 
above  described,  and,  letting  go  their  net,  they  ran  for  their  liv^s.  The 
swell  overlook  tliem  before  they  cou'ld  reach  the  high  bank,  and  swept 
them  forward  with  grej.t  force,  but,  being  expert  swimmers,  they  escaped 
unhurt.  The  man  who  was  in  the  skiil"  pulling  in  tlieaea-line  wasdriveu 
with  it  a  considerable  distance  over  the  flat,  and  grounded  on  a  suiiil! 
eminence,  where  he  remained  until  the  water  subsided.  There  wer 
three  successive  swells,  as  at  Otter  creek,  and  the  eflects  were  the  same, 


•Journal  ITistorique  d'un  Voyage  de  i'Ameri|ua,  LXlll. 
tVoyrtge  to  tlie  Frozen  and  Pacific,  O-^euni. 


W^' 


50 

with  this  iliffo 


Doc.  No.  69. 


th( 


feet.     In  both 


the 


in 


torence:  iho  water  rose  nnly  seven  icet.     in  both  oases, 
lake,  after  the  swells  had  spent  their  force,  gradually  subsided,   and 
about  twenty  rnitmtes  was  at  its  usual  hcigtit  and  tranquillity,," 

In  IS20,  (jiovernor  Cass  instituted  a  series  of  t)bservations  at  the  head  of 
Green  bay  to  dcterniine  the  changes  in  the  water-level.  These  observa- 
tions extended  from  Ihe  li'ith  of  July  to  the  3flth  gf  August;  and  the 
following  are  the  results:  "That  the  changes  in  the  elevation  of  the  xVaters 
are  entirely  too  variable  to  be  (raced  to  any  regular,  permatient  cause;  and 
that,  conse|uently,  there  is  no  perceptible  tide  at  Green  bay,  which  is  the 
result  of  observation.  And  such,  il  appears  to  me,  is  the  result  of  calcu- 
lation, when  the  laws  that  regulate  solar  and  lunar  attraction,  and  the 
limited  sphere  of  their  operation,  are  taken  into  view."* 

Professor  Mather,  who  observed  the  barometer  at  ('opjxjr  Harbor  during 
the  i)revalence  of  one  of  these  fluctuations,  has  published  the  results  of 
his  observations  in  the  journalf  before  alluded  to.  Ho  remarks:  "As  a 
general  thing,  fliictuations  in  the  barometer  accompanied  the  fluctuations  in 
the  level  of  the  water;  but  sometimes  the  water  lev^l  varied  rapidly  in  the 
harbor,  while  no'  such  variations  occurred  in  the  barometer  at  the  place  of 
observation.  The  variations  in  the  Ifevel  of  the  water  may  be  caused  by 
varied  barometric  pressure  of  the  air  on  the  water,  either  at  the  place  of 
ohservation  or  at  some  distant  points.  A  local  increased  pressure  of  the 
atmosphere  at  the  place  of  obiservation  Avould  lower  the  water  level  where 
there  is  a  wide  expanse  of  water,  or  a  diminished  pressure  noder  the  same 
circumstances  would  cause  the  water  to  rise  above  iis  usual  level." 

In  the  summer  of  1834,  an  extraordinary  retrocession  of  the  waters  took 
place  at  Saut  Ste.  Marie.  The  river  here  is  nearly  a  mile  in  width,  and 
the  depth  of  water  over  the  sandstone  rapids  is  about  two  and  a  half  feet. 
The  phenomenon  occurred  about  noon.  The  day  was  calm,  but  cloudy. 
The  water  retired  suddenly,  leaving  the  bed  of  the  river  bare,  except 
for  the  distance  of  about  twenty  rods,  where  the  channel  is  the  deef>est, 
and  remained  so  for  the  space  of  an  hour.  Persons  went  out  arid  caught 
fish  in  the  pools  formed  in  the  depressions  of  the  rocks.  The  return  of 
the  waters  is  represented  to  have  been  sudden,  and  presented  an  impo- 
sing spectacle.  They  came  down  like  an  immense  surge — roaring  and 
foaming;  and  those  who  had  incautiously  wandered  into  the  riv^r-oed 
had  barely  time  to  escape  being  overwhelmed.  Our  informants  were 
unable  to  state  whether  this  occurrence  was  succeeded  by  a  violent  wind 
.  or  storm ;  but  they  all  concurred  in  representing  the  day  as  calm. 

A  similar  phenomenon  occurred  twice  the  same  day,  in  the  latter  part 

■  of  April ,  !  842.     The  lake  wa-  free  from  ice,  and  no  wind  was  prevailing 

at  the  time.    A  few  years  previously — the  precise  period  our  informants 

-could  not  designate — the  current  between  the  foot  of  the  rapids  and  Fort 

Brady,  whicli  usually  flows  at  the  rate  of  two  and  a  half  knots  an  hour, 

was  obseiVed  to  set  back,  and  the  water  rose  two  feet  or  more  above  the 

usual  mark.   Some  of  the  soldiers  at  the  fort,  in  order  to  satisfy  themselves 

.as  to  the  backward  flow,  jumped  into  a  boat  uud  rowed  into  the  stream, 

when  they  found  that  the  boat  floated  towards  the  foot  of  the  rapids. 

^Remarks  on  the  supposed  tides  and  periodical  rise  and  fall  of  the  North  American  lakes,  by 
Major  (now  Brigadier  General)  Henry  Whiting,  Silliman's  Journal,  vol  20,  p.  2. 
See,  also,  a  paper  by  General  H.  A.  S.  Deart>orn  in  the  satne  journal,  vol  16. 

t  Second  series,  vol.  6,  July,  1848. 


I 

i 


mg  t 
river, 


live 


Doc.  No.  69. 


51 


Ij  cases,  the 

ed,  and   in 

>> 

• 

the  head  of 
rise  observa- 
iist;  and  tlie 
•f  tlio  \Vaters 
cause;  and 
iviiicli  is  the 
lit  of  calcu- 
on,  and  the 

irbor  during 
lio  results  of 
irks:  "As  a 
ctuations  in 
pidly  in  the 
the  place  of 
3  caused  by 
the  place  of 
ssure  of  the 
level  where 
ler  the  same 
ivel." 

waters  took 

1  width,  and 

1  a  half  feet. 

but  cloudy. 

)are,  except 

he  deepest, 

anid  caught 

le  return  of 

d  an  impo- 

roaring  and 

le  river- oed 

iiants  were 

ioleut  wind 

Im. 

e  latter  part 

s  prevaihng 

informants 

Is  and  Fort 

Dts  an  hour, 

e  above  the 

themselves 

the  stream, 

the  rapids. 

;rican  lakes,  by 


These  facts  are  given  on  the  authority  of  Messrs^  Ashmun,  Peck,  and 
liingliam — old  residents  of  Saut  Ste.  Marie. 

VVt!  have  witnessed  numerous  instances  of  these  ebbings  and  flowings, 
which  will  serve  to  corroborate  the  above  facts.  In  the  month  of  August, 
1816,  while  coasting  in  an  open  boat  between  Copper  Harbor  and  Kagle 
river,  we  observed  rhe  water  rise  up,  at  a  distance  of  a  fourth  of  a  mile  to 
the  northwest,  to  the  height  of  twenty  feet.  It  curled  over  like  an 
immense  surge, crested  with  foam,  and  swept  towards  the  siiore,  diminish- 
ing as  it  advanced.  The  voyageur.s  paused  on  their  oars,  having  first 
headed  the  boat  so  as  to  cut  the  advancing  wave.  It  passed  without 
doing  us  any  injury,  and  sp6ntits  force  on  the  shore.  It  was  succeeded 
by  trtro  or  three  swells  of  less  magnitude,  when  the  lake  resumed  its 
former  tranquillity.  The  cause  of  this  uplift  was  apparently  local,  and 
operated  but  for  a  few  moments.  It  could  not,  like  the  hnrc  at  the  mouth 
the  Amazon,  have  been  produced  by  opposing  currents.  It  was  late  in 
tlie  afternoon  when  this  phenomenon  was  observed.  The  lake  was  calm; 
but  to  the  northwest  the  clouds  indicated  that  different  currents  of  air 
were  moving  in  opposite  directions.  Mirage  was  beautifully  displayed, 
and  imaginary  islands  were  seen  along  the  horizon. 

Wliile  at  Rock  Harbor,  Isle  Royale,  in  the  summer  of  1817,  we  wit- 
nessed the  ebbing  and  flowing  of  the  water,  recurring  at  intervals  of  fifteen 
or  twenty  minutes,  during  the  entire  afternoon.  The  variation  was  frotn 
twelve  to  twenty  inches;  and  \\^  took  advantage  of  their  recession  to 
catch  some  of  the  small  lake  fish  which  were  loft  in  the  pools.  The  day 
was  calm  and  clear,  but  before  the  expiration  of  forty -eight  hours  a  violent 
gale  set  in. 

Oa  the  23d  of  July,  1848,  we  went  from  Copper  Harbor  to  Eagle  river, 
where  we  arrived  in -the  evening.  The  day  had  been  calm— so  much  so, 
that  we  were  unable  to  avail  ourselves  of  our  sail.  In  the  evening  there 
sprang  up  an  off  land  breeze,  but  we  observed  a  strong  current  setting  in 
to  the  river  from  th<^  lake.  The  water  rose  and  fell  rapidly.  The  next 
day  a  storm  '    aimenced  and  continued  for  four  days. 

On  the  '>Vth  of  July,  1849,  we  were  at  Rock  Harbor,  Isle  Royale.  The 
wind  WAS  light,  and  a  drizzling  rain  fell  all  day.  The  next  day,  how- 
ever, a  heAvy  northwester  set  in — so  heavy,  indeed,  that  the  propeller 
then  iving  in  the  harbor  did  not  venture  out.  On  the  opposite  side  of 
the  laive,  at  Copper  Harbor,  (July  29,)  the  water  was  observed  to  fluctu- 
ate at  intervals,  varying  from  ten  to  twenty  minutes,  and  rising  higher 
and  higher  at  each  return,  until  the  wharf,  placed  above  the  range  of  the 
highest  stage,  as  was  supposed,  was  overflowed,  as  well  as  the  road  lead- 
ing to  the  warehouse:  This  continued  throughout  the  day.  At  Eagle 
river,  twenty-five  miles  distant,  the  same  fluctuations  were  observed. 
The  wind,  which  was  not  heavy,  came  from  off  shore,  and  was  therefore 
opposite  to  the  current  from  the  lake.  The  next  day,  as  at  Rock  Harbor, 
there  was  a  heavy  blow  from  tlic  nri|,hwest,  the  tendency  of  which 
would  be  to  accumulate;  the  water  on  the  south  shore;  but  it  did  not  rise 
as  high  as  on  the  preceding  day,  when  the  wind  came  from  an  opposite 
quarter.  These  facts  show  conclusively  that  these  swells,  although  they 
precede  the  winds,  do  not  owe  their  origin  to  this  source. 

This  will  appear  more  sati>5factorily  by  consulting  a  map  as  to  the  rela- 
tive position  of  the  points  above  mentioned.  Isle  Royale  is  about  'M 
miles  distant  from  the  northern  and  western  coast  of  Lake  Superior.  Cop- 


52 


Doc.  No.  69. 


1  'i' 


I],  1r 


m. 


,.  '  I 


W 


per  Harbor  is  about  Sp  miles  distant  from  Rock  Harbor,  in  a  south  south- 
east direction.  Thus,  while  these  fluctuations  were  observed  at  the  latter 
point,  the  storm  had  not  struck  the  lake  on  the  Canada  side. 

Similar  occurrences  have  been  noted  in  other  parts  of  the  world.  The 
fluctuations  in  the  Lake  of  Geneva,  which  are  there  called  seiches,  un- 
doubtedly belong  to  the  same  class  of  phenomena. 

The  intelligent  traveller,  Von  Tschudi,*  thus  speaks  of  a  singular  phe- 
nomenon which  has  in  later  times  often  occurred  at  Callao,  and  which, 
in  1841,  he  had  an  opportunity  of  observing:  "About  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  the  sea  flowed  from  the  shore  with  greater  force  than  in  the 
strongest  ebb;  the  ships  farthest  out  were  left  dry,  which  is  never  the 
case  in  ebb  tide.  The  alarm  of  the  inhabitants  was  great,  when  the  sea 
instantly  rushed  back  with  increased  force.  Nothing  could  withstand 
its  fury.  Meanwhile,  there  was  no  commotion  of  the  earth,  nor  any 
marked  change  in  the  temperature." 

The  great  wave  frequently  observed  ofi"  Cape  Horn  and  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  by  mariners  may  belong  to  the  same  class  of  phenomena. 

We  have  already  given  Charlevoix's  theory  to  account  for  these  flnc- 
tuatjpns.  It  may,  be  ingenious,  but  is  not  even  probable.  Governor 
Clinton  was  disposed  to  regard  them  as  the  result  of  earthquake  move- 
ments. If  so,  a  commotion  of  the  land  would  have  been  noticed.  The 
fdcts  adduced  seem  to  connect  these  phenomena  with  a  disturbed  state  of 
the  atmosphere,  since  they  are,  for  the  most  part,  succeeded  by  violent 
gales.  Humboldt  remarks  that  the  regularity  of  hourly  variations  of  the 
magnetic  needle  and  the  atmospheric  pressure  is  undisturbed  on  earth- 
quake days  within  the  tropics.  Von  Tschudi  says,  that  in  seventeen 
observations  which  he  made  during  the  earthquakes  of  Lima,  with  a  good 
Lefevre  barometer,  he  found,  in  fifteen  instances,  the  position  of  the  mer- 
cury quite  unaltered.  On  one  occasion,  shortly  before  a  commotion,  he 
observed  it  2.4  lities  lower  than  it  had  been  twenty-four  hours  before. 
Another  time  he  observed,  also  on  the  approach  of  the  shock,  a  remarka- 
ble rising  and  sinking. 

We  may  regard  the  earth  as  surrounded  by  two  oceans — one  aerial,  the 
other  aqueous.  By  the  laws  which  regulate  two  fluids  thus  relatively 
situated,  a  local  disturbance  in  the  one  would  produce  a  corresponding- 
disturbance  in  the  other.  Every  rise  or  fall  of  one-twentieth  of  an  inch 
in  the  mercurial  column  would  be  attended  with  an  elevation  or  depres- 
sion  of  the  surface  of  the  ocean  equal  to  one  inch.f  Again,  as  has  been 
remarked  by  De  la  Beche,|  a  sudden  impulse  given  to  the  particles  of 
water,  either  by  suddenly  increased  or  diminished  pressure  in  the  atmos- 
phere, would  cause  a  perpendicular  rise  or  fall,  in  the  manner  of  a  wave, 
beyond  the  height  or  depth  strictly  due  to  the  mere  weight  itself.     This 


«^:^^^■■ 


'^^ 


*  Travels  in  Peru. 

t  Whewell  on  Tides. 

i  De  la  Bcclie,  (Survey  of  Cornwall,)  quotin|;  from  the  innr.uscripti  of  Mr.  Wallier,  who 
has  (IcToted  much  time  to  the  observation  of  tides,  says:  '•  He  has  found  that  chungeB  in  the 
heights  of  the  water's  surface,  reaulting  from  changes  in  the  pressure  of  the  tumospliere,  are  often 
noticed  on  a  good  tide-gauge  before  the  barometer  gives  notice  of  the  change.  *  *  *  If  lidi- 
gan^es  at  important  dock-yarda  show  that  a  sudden  change  of  sea-level  has  taken  plate,  indica- 
tive of  suddenly  decreased  atmospheric  weight,  before  the  barometer  hoe  ^ivcn  notice  of  such  a 
change,  all  that  time  which  elapses  between  the  notices  givnn  by  the  tide-gauge  and  baromr- 
ler  la  so  much  gained  ;  and  those  engaged  with  shipping  know  the  value  of  even  a  few  mc- 
Bieat-i  before  the  burst  of  an  approaching  hurricane." 


itith  soiith- 
at  the  latter 

3rld.    The 
eiches,  un-. 

ngular  phe- 
sind  which, 
lock  in  the 
than  iu  the 
s  never  the 
hen  the  sea 
withstand 
th,  nor  any 

the  Cape  of 
nomena. 
r  these  flnc- 
Governor 
uake  move- 
ticed.     The 
fbed  state  of 
d  by  violent 
itions  of  tlie 
ed  on  earth- 
n  seventeen 
with  a  good 
of  the  Hier- 
imotion,  he 
lOurs  before. 
L  a  reniarka- 

|e  aerial,  the 

IS  relatively 

[rresponding- 

of  an  inch 

In  or  depres- 

las  has  been 

particles  of 

the  atmos- 

of  a  wave, 

kself.     This 


Doc.  No.  )69. 


53 


Wallisr,  who 

IchwngeB  in  the 

shere,  nre  often 

»    »    If  tid(.- 

place,  imJicii- 

otice  of  such  a 

c  afid  biironic- 

Ivcn  a  few  mo- 


sudden  impulse  would  give  rise  to  a  series  of  aqueous  waves,  which 
would  propagate  themselves  from  the  centre  of  disturbance,  like  the  cir- 
cles'  which  are  observed  when  a  stone  is  cast  into  the  water.  These  un- 
dulations are  perceived  in  the  liquid  before  the  gale  sets  in.  It  is 
not  to  be  expected  that  the  oscillations  in  the  barometer,  in  all  instances, 
will  correspond  with  those  of  the  water;  for  Mr.  Redfield  has  shpwji  tha^t 
storms  have  sometimes  been  preceded  by  an  unusual  pressure  of  the  at- 
mosphere, the  barometer  standing  remarkably  high,  and  hence  he  has  in- 
fen'ed  that  there  existed  around  the  gale  an  accumulation  of  air,  under  a 
great  degree  of  pi-«ssure,  forming  a  margin.  It  may  Aequently  happen, 
that  while  the  effects  are  perceived  at  tlw  place  of  'vbservation,  the  cause 
ma^  be  for  removed . 

Many  persons  who  have  resided  on  the  borders  of  the  lakes  maintain 
that,  aside  from  the  annual  variations  in  the  height  of  their  surfaces, 
there  is  a  more  extended  one  recurring  at  intervals  varying  from  five  to 
seven  years,  while  others  extend  the  period  to  fourteen.  The  greatest 
height  of  water  heretofore  obseirved  is  about  six  feet.  The  statistics 
which  have  been  published*  in  reference  to  this  rise  indicate  that  the 
variations  in  the  water-level  in  a  series  of  years  are  considerable,  but  that 
they  do  not  recur  at  regular  intervals.  The  meteorological  registers  kept  at 
various  stations  show  that  the  annual  amount  of  rain  which  falls  over  a 
given  area  is  extremely  variable.  Thus,  at  Port  Brady,  where  the  mean 
of  five  years'  observations  isi^9.58  inches,  the  extremes  are  36.92  and 
22.44. 

Again,  the  season  in  the  basin  of  Lake  Superior  may  be  rainy,  while 
that  in  the  region  of  the  tributaries  of  the  lower  lakes  may  be  dry,  and 
I  vice  versa;  and  thus  the  lower  lakes  might  be  on  the  rise,  while  their  tribu- 
taries failed  to  discharge  their  usual  volume  of  water.     In  proof  of  this 
[diversity  of  humidity,  it  may  be  mentioned,  that  during  the  year  1848,  an 
unusual  quantity  of  rain  fell  in  the  basin  of  Lake  Superior,  and  all  of  its 
Itribntaries  were  swollen.    The  lake  was  gradually  rising  when  we  left  in 
ISeptember,  and  at  that  time  had  attained  a  point  higher  than  had  been 
lobserved  for  three  years  previously.     On  reaching  Lake  Michigan,  in 
jOctoljer,  we  found  that  that  lake  began  to  be  sensibly  atfepted  by  the  in- 
creased volume  of  water  discharged  through  the  St.  Mary's  river.     On 
uriving  at  Cincinnati,  the  Ohio  river  was  observed  to  be  contracted  to 
less  than  half  its  usual  volume,  so  that  only  the  smallest  class  of  boats 
jould  navigate  its  waters. 

If  meteorological  observations  were  kept  at  different  stations  extending 
through  the  entire  region  drained  by  the  great  lakes,  it  would  undoubt- 
idly  be  found  that  the  variations  in  the  water  level  corresponded  with  tlie 
/^ariable  amount  of  rain  over  that  area.f 
A  larger  portion  of  the  tributaries  of  Lake  Superior  have  their  origin  in 
region  covered  for  two-thirds  of  the  year  with  ice  and  snow,  La;e  ia 
Ijlay  the  icy  fetters  are  unloosed, and  the  lake  commences  rising,  and  con- 
inues  to  rise  until  the  last  of  September,  when  it  attains  its  maximum 

"Vide  the  memoir  of  Gover.";or  Giiraon  before  referred  to ;  Michigan  Gaological  Reporis; 
|hio  Geological  Reports,  18:i8. 

f  The  surface  of  Lake  Superior,  on  the  12ih  of  August,  iS4D,  was  23^  iiirhes  higher  thiui  ia 
Uy,  1847.  H 


54 


Doc.  No.  69. 


m  1  ': 


It  then  recedes  gradually  until  the  streams  begin  to  discharge  their  spring 
floods. 

Snow  usually  commences  falling  as  early  as  the  middle  of  October,"  and 
the  ground  is  covered  before  the  frost  has  penetrated  to  a  great  depth. 
The  amount  of  snow  during  the  season  has  been  represented  as  hijiti  as 
thirty«feQl;  but,  in  consequence  of  its  evaporation,  and  its  change  from  a 
crystalline  to  a  granular  form,  known  as  tuve.it  settles,  and  the  actual 
depth  on  the  ground  rarely  exceeds  four  feet.  Trappers,  in  crossing  the 
inland  lakes  in  midwinter,  bft^u  break  through,  so  slight  and  unstable  is 
the  covering. 

The  temperature  of  the  water  of  I^ake  Superior  during  the  summer, 
a  fathom  or  two  below  the  surface,  is  but  a  few  degrees  above  *the 
freezing  point.  The  following  observations  show  the  temperature  of 
the  water  at  different  times  in  different  parts  of  the  lake.  In  the  western 
poriion,  the  water  is  colder  than  in  the  eastern — the  surface  flow  becoming 
warmer  as  it  advances  towards  the  outlet.  The  water  in  these  experiments 
was  taken  from  the  surface.  .... 


i  '    If 


.    ii 


-^s;. 


•  >     ! .    , 


;;/-VC''- 


•..■■■.■■ff- 


■i.V   U? 


June  30,  1849.— To  the  south  of  Caribou  Island  - 
July    8,  1849.— In  Sand  Bay        - 
July  28,  1849. — Between   Keweenaw  Point  and 
Isle  Royale      -  -  - 

Aug.  13, 1849. — Midway  in  Keweenaw  Bay 


Fahrenheit. 


Water. 


370.0 

37°., 5 

39°.  5 
49°.  0 


Air. 


43°. 5 1 

52\0\ 

45°. 0! 


During  the  severe  winters,  the  surface  of  the  lake  becomes  congealed 
When  a  gale  sets  in,  the  ice  is  seen  to  undulate  and  break,  and  the  water 
to  gush  through  the  fissures,  until  finally  the  whole  mass  is  set  in  motion—^ 
the  fragments  clashing  against  one  another,  accompanied  by  loud  reports, 
like  volleys  of  musketry.  Long  parallel  ridges  of  ice,  fifteen  or  twenty 
feet  in  height,  are  piled  up  along  the  shores.  We  can  readily  conceive 
how  masses  of  rock  thus  entangled  might  be  carried  for  considerable  dis- 
tances when  the  ice  becomes  detached  and  floats  off,  and  how  a  cliff  might 
be  scratched  and  grooved. 

The  waters  ot  the  lake  possess  great  transparency,  and  a  tin  cup  may 
be  seen  to  the  depth  often  fathoms.    Coasting  along  the  shores  in  a  caliiil 
sunlight  day,  and  looking  over  the  gunwale  of  the  boat,  the  voyageur^ 
seems  to  be  suspended  over  the  floor  of  the  lake,  and  every  fissure  in  tiiei 
rock,  and  every  glittering  pebble  is  revealed  with  wonderful  clearness, 
The  light  streaming  through  the  transparent  medium  tinges  every  object 
with  a  brilliant  hue.  < 

The  evaporation  from  the  surfaces  of  the  lakes  must  be  immense.  The 
combined  area  of  Liikes  Superior,  Huron,  Michigan,  and  Erie  is  about 
87,UUU  square  miles,  and  of  their  basins  not  less  than  335,515  square 
miles. 


I 


Doc.  No.  69. 


55 


-*'; 


je  their  spring 

f  October,"  and 
I  great  depth, 
ted  as  hi^n  as 
change  from  a 
and  the  actual 
n  crossing  the 
ind  unstable  is 

;  the  summer, 
3es  above  *the 
temperature  of 
In  the  western 
flow  becoming 
se  experiments 


Fahrenheit. 


ter. 


°.5 

°.5 
°.0 


Air. 


43°.  5 

62^0 

45°. Oi 


mes  congealed.! 
.and  the  water | 
set  in  motion— 
ly  loud  reports, 
teen  or  twenty  I 
eadily  conceivej 
onsiderable  dis- 
owacUff  migblj 

a  tin  cup  mayl 
hores  in  a  calraj 

t,  the  voyageuTf 

ry  fissure  in  tlie. 

erful  clearness. 

ges  every  object 

immense.   Th; 
Erie  is  about 
335^515  s^quure 


It  has  been  estimated  that  the  quantity  of  water  passing  into  the 
Niagara  river  at  Black  Rock  is  22,440,000  cubic  feet  per  minute,  or  about 
80^  cubic  miles  per  annum.*  This  is  equivalent  to  fifteen  inches  perpen- 
dicular depth  of  water  spread  over  the  area  of  the  whole  country  drained. 
The  annual  amount  of  rain  which  falls  within  this  area  is  about  thirty 
inches.  One-half,  therefore,, of  the  water  which  falls  within  the  basin 
of  the  upper  St.  Lawrence  is  taken  up  by  evaporation,  amounting  to 
11,800,000,000,000  cubic  feet.f 

At  Saiit  Ste.  Marie,  the  outlet  of  Lake  Superior,  the  spectator  beholds  a 
river  nearly  a  mile  in  width,  and  of  sufficient  deptli  to  float  the  largest 
vessel.  In  its  onward  progress,  it  winds  among  innumerable  islands,  and 
ultimately  discharges  itself,  by  several  mouths,  into  Lake  Huron.  At 
Fort  Gratiot,  he  sees  the  same  river,  under  another  name,  after  having  re- 
ceived all  of  the  tributaries  of  Micljigan  and  Huron,  contracted  to  a  width 
of  little  more  than  three  hundred  yards,  but  of  increased  depth,  and  he 
finds  it  difficult  to  realize  that  it  is  the  same  river  which  he  saw- three  hun- 
dred miles  above. 

So,  too,  the  voyageur  who  has  coasted  around  Lake  Superior  and  gauged 
the  streams  which  pour  their  annual  floods  into  the  great  reservoir,  when 
he  stands  on  the  brmk  of  Niagara,  and  witnesses  the  fearful  plunge  of  the 
cataract,  is  induced  to  inquire  what  has  become  of  the  superfluous  water. 

The  difference  between  the  temperature  of  the  air  and  the  lalie  gives 
rise  to  a  variety  of  optical  illusions,  known  as  lairage.  Mountains  are 
seen  with  inverted  cones;  headlands  project  from  the  shore  where  none 
exist;  islands,  clothed  with  verdure  or  girt  with  cliffs,  rise  up  from  the 
bosom  of  the  lake,  remain  a  while,  and  disappear.  In  approaching  Ke- 
weenaw Point,  Mount  Houghton  is  the  first  object  to  greet  the  eye  of  the 
mariner.  Its  dome-shaped  summit  serves  as  a  landmark  to  guide  him 
in  his  course.  Once  or  twice,  in  peculiar  stages  of  the  atmosphere,  we 
have  observed  its  summit  inverted  in  the  sky  long  before  the  mountain 
Itself  was  visible. 

On  the  north  shore,  during  the  summer  months,  hardly  a  day  passes 
Without  witnessing  illusions  of  this  kind.     The  Faps,  two  elevated  moun 
tains  near  the  entrance  of  Neepigon  bay,  would  at  one  time  appear  like 
hour-glasses,  and  at  another  like  craters,  belching  forth  long  columns  of 
smoke,  which  gradually  settled  around  their  cones. 

Thunder  cape  assumed  shapes  equally  grotesque:  at  one  time  resem- 
bling a  huge  anvil  with  its  handle  projectmg  over  the  lake,  at  another  it 
appeared  as  though  traversed  from  summit  to  base  by  an  immense  fissure. 

These  phenomena  are  more  cofnmon  on  the  lakes  than  on  the  Atlantic 
coast,  since  hardly  a  day  passes  during  the  summer  without  a  more  or 
less  striking  exhibition  of  this  kind .  The  amount  of  refraction ,  dependent 
on  the  state  of  the  atmosphere,  is,  during  the  greater  part  of  the  summer, 
extraordinarily  variable.  The  greatest  difficulty  is  experienced  in  making 
astronomical  observations,  from  this  cause.  .  (Observations  taken  in  the 
afternoon,  and  generally  during  the  night,  are  almost  invariably  worthless. 
The  varying  refraction  may  often  be  noticed  in  meridian  observulions  of 

•Vide  M.  Z.  Allen's  sfticle  in  Si!!:!j)ar,'s  Jnurnai,  Junuary,  io44. 

t  Dalton  found  that  an  evaporating  surf.ice  of  six  in.-hes  >ieldcd  in  calm,  dry  air,  at  65» 
Fuhr.,  2.62  grains  of  vapor  per  minute,  and  4.12  in  a  high  wind. 

\  -  ..  ■  . 


l!i£tl) 


lie 


Doc.  No.  69. 


Fig-  9. 


the  sun  with  the  artificial  horizon,  when  the  two  images  will  he  seen  to  lap 
o</er  4nd  then  separate  from  each  other  a  great  number  of  times  diiring 
the  fe\v  minutes,  while  the  apparent  motion  of  the  sun  is  almo?:  ■  imper- 
ceptible. Thes'^  variations  amountto  several  minutes  of  altitude;  and,  of 
coUtse,  on  sui.ii  occasions,  no  use  cr.n  be  made  of  the  observations.  Ob- 
servations taken  in  the  morning,  when  a  steady  brisk  breeze  was  blowing, 
and  the  sky  free  frorh  clouds,  were  found  to  be  the  ^nly  ones  on  which 
any  de'pendencie  (iould  be  placed.  ■"''  ,  ,.'.','  .,  ,.'  .  '  ,'- 
The  some  phenomena  of  rapidly- varying  refraction  may  often  be  wit- 
nessed at  sunset,  when  Jhe  sun,  sinking  into  the  lake,  undergoes  a  rriost 
striking  and  rapid  variety  of  changes.  At  one  moment,  it  is  drawn  oiit 
jritoa  pe£it-lik(B  sHape;  the  next,  it  takes  an  elliptical  form;  and  just  as  it 
disappears,  the  ui)per  part  of  its  disk  becomes  elongated  into  a  ribbon  of 
light,  which  seems  to  float  for  a  moment  upon  the  surface  of  the  water 
alSd  th'feh  disaippear.     ^,        '  » 

The  annexed  cut  represents  the  outline  of 
the  appearance  of  the  sun  as  it  went  dowp 
in  the  watsrs  of  Lake  Michigan,  June  19, 
1849. 

'i'he  cause  of  these  phenomena  can  readily 

be  fouiifd  in  the  ever  varying  movement  of 

bodies  of  diflerently  heated  air  charged  with 

different  amounts  of  moisture.     Those  whp 

^^^^^^^^^______^__^^     navigate  the  lake  not  unfrequently  notice 

that  they  pass  instantaneously  from  a  current  of  air  blowing  briskly  in 
orie  direction  into  one  blowing  with  equal  force  from  an  opposite  direction. 
The  lower  sails  of  a  vessel  are  sometimes  entirely  becalmed,  while  a  brisk 
breeze  fills  the  upper. 

Frosts,  of  sufhcient  severity  to  turn  the  leaves,  usually  occur  as  early 
as  the  iniddle  of  September.  Snow  commences  faUing  by  the  middle  of 
October,  and  ibr  more  than  six  months  tlie  ground  is  covered  with  a  fleecy 
mantle.  The  streams  become  locked  with  ice  and  remain  so  until  May. 
The  ground  does  not  become  frozen  to  a  great  depth,  and,  so  soon  as  the 
snow  disappears,  vegetation  shoots  into  lifie,  and  the  air  swarms  with 
myriads  of  insects.  During  the  long  days  the  sun  shines  with  undimin- 
ished splendor,  and  the  influence  of  its  direct  rays  ccfmpensates  for  the 
\o\t  mean  temperature.  Spring  and  summer  are  mingled.  The 
forest  becomes  clothed  with  leave?,  and  its  solitude  is  enlivened  by  thp 
song  of  birds  and  the  hum  of  insects,  before  all  traces  of  snow  have  dis- 
appeared. '  • 

Notwithstgindiiig  the  proximity  of  tit  lake,  the  therniometer  has  a  range 
of  130°  in  ae  course  of  the  year.  Often  in  midsummer,  when,  ^t 
several  days,  the  winds  come  from  the  southwest,  the  voyageur  ex- 
periences a  suflbcatiiig  heat — an  enervating  depression.  The  perspiration 
rolls  from  him  even  when  unemployed  and  protected  from  the  glare  of 
the  sun  by  the  forest's  shade.  But,  foriunateiy,  these  suffocating  heats 
are  of  short  continuance. 

In  the  valley  of  the  Ontonagon,  on  the  lllh  of  June  last,  the  thermom- 
eter rose  to  96°.*    The  wind  was  blowing  from  the  SW.,  but  brought 


;.J 


**  Humboldt  remarks  that  the  thermometer  nowhere  risca  higher  than  104°  P.,  unless  exposeil 
to  the  inflaence  of  bodies  which  radiate  heat.  The  extraunllimry  heats  of  the  desert,  as  indicated 
by  the  tbe^mometer,  are  caused  by  particles  of  sand  carried  throui^h  the  atmosphere. 


*  ■•I'M  I 


1 


Pqc.  No.  69. 


57 


with  it  no  refreshing  coohiess.  A  little  after  midday,  a  dark  cloud,  emit- 
ting from  its  edges  a  pale  phosphorescent  light,  rose  from  the  lake,  and 
advanced  against  the  wind.  Its  approach  was  indicated  by  a  loud  roaring, 
and,  when  it  reached  our  encampment,  the  trees  swayed  to  and  fro,  and 
maiiy  were  prostrated  around  us.  The  air  was  filled  with  flying  leaves 
and  branches.  Voyageurs  and  men  instinctively  rushed  into  the  river, 
and  remained  until  the  fury  of  the  storm  had  abatedo 

Thunder- storrfls  of  greslt  violence  are  not  unusual;  and  the  large  tracts 
of  prostrate  timber  frequently  met  with  in  the  forests,  and  known  as 
*' windfalls, 'J  indicate  the  path  of  the  tbrnado. 

Sudden  gusts  of  wind  spring  up  on  the  lake,  and  hence  the  oldest 
voyageurs  are  most  inclined  to  hug  the  shore. 

Instead  of  seeking  for  a  solution  of  these  phenomena  by  a  resort  to 
natural  causes,  they  ascribe  themj  like  the  Scandinavians  of  old,  to  the 
freaks  of  a  crazy  old  woman,  who  is  endowed  with  ubiquity  : 

"  Now  here,  now  there,  and  everywhere."  , 

Before  the  middle  of  September,  a  change  in  the  elements  becomes  ob- 
servable. The  light  and  sportive  breezes  are  succeeded  by  heavy 
gales,  which  sweep  over  the  lake,  and  render  coasting  exceedingly 
hazardous. 

Auroras,  even  in  midsummer,  are  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  exhibit 
a  brilliancy  and  extent  rarely  observed  in  lower  latitudes.  The  com- 
monest phenomena  are  these:  A  dark  cloud,  tinged  on  the  upper  edge 
with  a  pale  luminous  haze,  skirts  the  northern  horizon.  From  this, 
streaks  of  orange  and  blue-colored  light  flash  up,  and  often. reach  a 
point  south  of  the  zenith.  They  rapidly  increase  and  decrease,  giving 
to  the  whole  hemisphere  the  appearance  of  luminous  waves,  and  occa- 
sionally forming  perfect  coipn£e.  They  commence  shortly  after  sunset, 
and  continue  through  the  night.  The  voyageurs  regard  them  as  the 
precursors  of  storms  and  gales,  ai;d  our  own  observations  have  con- 
firmed the  result.  Occasionally  broad  belts  of  light  are  ^en  spanning 
tlie  whole  arc  of  the  heav^ens,  of  sufficient  brilliancy  to  enable  one  to 
read. 

In  the  wimer  these  phenomena  are  much  more  frequent,  and  the 
ground  appears  tinged  with  a  crimson  hue.  The  aurora  indicates  a  dis- 
turbance of  the  equilibrium  in  the  distribution  of  terrestrial  magnetism, 
and,  according  to  Dove,  may  be  regarded,  not  as  an  externally  mani- 
fested cause  of  this  disturbance,  but  rather  as  a  result  of  telluric  activity — 
manifested  on  one  side  by  the  appearance  of  light,  and  on  the  other 
by  the  vibrations  of  the  magnetic  needle.* 

On*  one  or  two  occasions  we  have  witnessed  the  rare  and  beautiful 
phenomenon  of  parhelia,  or  mock  suns. 

•  For  a  full  exposition  of  these  phenomena,  consult  Humboldt's  Kosmos,.vol.  I.    '   .' ' 


\ 


t  i 


't 


r      M 


i 


fill 

I    HI' 


58 


Dec.  No.  69. 


CHAPTER  III. 


GEOLOGT   OF   THE   COPPER  REGION. 


Maps. — Clasftification  of  the  rock-*.  —  Their  composition.  —  Kewefinow 
Point. — Range  and  extent  of  the  trap. — Local  details. — District  bo- 
tween  Portage  lake  and  the  Montreal  river. — Range  and  extent.-^ 
Metallic  contents,  and  the  association  of  copper. — Porcupihe  mountains. 
— Isle  Roy  ale. — Its  similarity  in  geological  structure  to  Keweenaw 
Point. — Range  and  extent  of  the  trap. — Metallic  contents. 

That  portion  of  the  Lake  Superior  land  district  whose  geology  we  pur- 
pose to  delineate  in  the  following  report  is  represented  on  the  accompany- 
ing maps,  entitled — 

1 .  A  geological  map  of  Keweenaw  Point. 

2.  A  geological  map  of  the  region  between  Portage  lake  and  the  Mon« 
treal  river. 

3.  A  geological  map  of  Isle  Royale. 

These  maps  comprise  the  territory  known  as  the  copper  region. 

The  iron  region,  though  of  less  extent,  but  of  equal  economical  value, 
will  form  the  subject  of  a  subsequent  communication. 

The  rocks  which  constitute  the  solid  framework,  so  to  speak,  of  this 
district,  are  divisible  into  two  classes,  widely  different  in  their  origin  and 
composition — the  igneous  and  aquious. 

Under  the  first  division  may  be  included  the  several  varieties  of  Imp — 
using  this  term  as  a  generic  one — such  as  greenstone,  granular  and 
tunygdaloidal  trap,  basalt,  &c.  These  rocks,appear  to  have  been  gener- 
ated within  the  bowels  of  the  earth  by  the  action  of  fire,  and  in  some  cases 
to  have  been  protruded  in  vast  irregular  masses,  forming  conical  or  dome- 
shaped  mountains;  at  other  times, in  continuous  lines  of  elevation;  while 
in  others  they  appear  to  have  flowed  like  lava-currents  in  sheets  over  the 
sands  then  in  the  progress  of  accunmlation.  The  mineral  substances  which 
compose  these  ancient  lavas  are  very  various  in  their  nature,  but  in  gener- 
al it  may  be  said  that  the  predominating  rock  is  one  composed  of  an  inti- 
mate mixture  ut"  labrador,  hornblende,  and  chlorite,  though  the  latter  is  not 
an  invariable  accompaniment. 

To  the  second  class,  or  aqueous  formation,  may  be  referred  the  sand- 
stones, shales,  and  limestones  of  this  district.  They  occur  in  stratified 
beds,  divided  into  layers,  strata,  laminaj,  &c.  The  materials  appear  to 
have  been  transported  by  currents  and  deposited  on  the  floor  of  the  bcean, 
where  they  subsequently  became  consolidated. 

In  addition  to  these,  there  is  another  class  of  rocks  which  have  undoubt- 
edly resulted  from  the  joint  operation  of  igneous  and  aqueous  causes. 
The  materials  appear  originally  to  have  been  ejected  through  rents  and 
fissures  in  the  crust  of  the  earth  to  the  surface,  where  they  were  subse- 
quently transported  and  ground  up  by  currents  and  deposited  in  stratified 


beds.     This  class  of  rocks  is  termed  by  ^l.  .PvGvosl*  jjluio'ncpiunean; 


aild 


•  Article  "  Formation,"  Dictionnaire  Universd  d^Histoire  J^atureUt. 


Doc.  No.  69. 


and  the  Mon- 


to  this  division  may  be  referred  the  conglomerates  apd  chlorite  beds  asso- 
ciated with  the  trap. 

The  metamorphic  rocks,  or  those  which  were  supposed  originally  to 
have  been  deposited  by  water  and  subsequently  modified  by  heat,  causing 
them  to  resemble  igneous  products,  are  r'  eloped  only  to  a  limited  extent 
in  the  copper  region;  but  in  tl'e  iron  re^jion  they  are  displayed  on  a  scale 
of  vastiiess,  and  form  the  most  interesting  feat  ire  in  the  physical  history 
of  the  district.  , 

The  mineralogical  character  of  the  trappean  rocks,  being  a  complex  and 
difficult  sublet,  will  be  separately  described  in  the  cheuiical  part  of  the 
report.  At  present  it  may,  however,  be  briefly  stated  that  ihey  aie  in  gen- 
eral made  up  of  an  intimate  mixture  of  labrador  and  hornblende,  forming  a 
dark-colored  homogeneous  nmss,  in  which  the  separate  minerals  cannot  be 
distinguished  by  the  eye.  Chlorite,  though  not  an  invariable  accompani- 
ment, is  often  present  in  a  considerable  quantity.  Magnetic  oxide  of  iron 
is  also  a  very  common  ingredient,  and  sometimes  in  visible  particles, 
lliough  generally  its  presence  is  only  betrayed  by  the  action  of  the  rock  on 
the  magnetic  needle.  The  variable  proportion  and  nature  of  the  mineral 
ingredients  give  rise  to  a  great  diversity  in  the  external  characters  of  the 
mass,  which  diversity  is  still  further  increased  by  the  different  circum- 
stances under  which  different  portions  of  a  rock  identical  in  mineral 
character  may  have  passed  from  the  fluid  to  the  salid  state.  , 

The  same  rock  maybe  found  in  every  shape  of  transition,  from  the  most 
compact  and  homogeneous  structure  to  a  light  porous  mass,  filled  with 
cavities,  or  amygdules,  which  have  often,  posterior  to  the  cooling  of  the 
rock,  been  filled  with  various  mineral  substances. 

For  the  sake  of  convenience  in  describing  the  local  details,  and  in  order 
to  adhere,  as  much  as  possible,  to  the  terms  already  familiarly  used  by 
those  engaged  in  mining  explorations  in  this  district,  we  shall  iuclude, 
\-nder  the  name  of  trap  range,  or  trappean  rocks,  all  the  different  varie- 
ties  of  igneous  rocks  which  form  the  great  belt  extending  from  the  ex- 
tvemity  of  Keweenaw  Point  to  the  Montreal  river,  and  which  also  form 
the  greater  portion  of  Isle  Royale.  When  the  rock  is  vesicujar  in  its 
structure,  it  is  called  amygdaloid;  when  compact,  crystalline,  or  homo- 
geneous, the  hornblende  predominating,  it  is  called  greenstone;  when 
columnar  or  jointed,  as  on  Isle  Roj'^ale,  it  is  called  basalt.  If  the  homo- 
geneous base  ''ontain  distinct  crystals  of  feldspar  disseminated,  it  becomes 
a  true  porp>iyry;  and  the  largely  crystalline  and  feldspatic  varieties  are 
known  as  sienitic. 

These  and  many  other  varieties  occur  abundantly  throughout  the  dis- 
trict, in  belts  imposed  one  upon  another.  Their  position  and  the  changes 
they  have  caused  in  the  contiguous  detrital  rocks  will  be  noticed  in  de- 
scribing  the  detailed  geology. 

liange  and  extent. — Commencing  at  the  head  of  Keweenaw  Point,  we 
find  the  trappei,in  rocks,  with  the  asso«Mated  conglomerates,  emerging  to 
the  surface  in  bold  stair-like  cliffs,  affording  many  scenes  of  wild  and 
picturesque  beauty.  This  peculiar  physiognomy  is  characteristic  of  the 
whole  trap  region.  Humboldt  long  ago  remarked  that  each  zone  had  its 
particular  types  of  animal  and  vegetable  life,  but  that  the  inorganic  crust  of 
the  globe  showed  itself  independent  of  climatic  influences.  Every  whore, 
ba,"Ut  rises  in  twin  mountains  and  truncated  cones;  everywhere  porphy- 

i'  it 


'I  v 


li  V 


60 


Doc.  No.  69. 


1 '  l:* 


ritic  trap  appears  in  grotesquely  arranged  masses,  and  granite  in  rouhded 
summits.* 

The  outer  belt  of  trap,  occupying  the  extreme  northern  portion  of 
Keweenaw  Point,  (see  map,)  is  less  than  a  mile  in  width,  and  preserves  a 
great  degree  of  uniformity  ihrouchout  its  entire  course.  It  forms  a  seg- 
ment of  a  circle,  of  which  the  Bohemian  mountains  may  be  regarded  as 
the  centre.  The  southern  points  of  Manilou  island  are  dotted  with 
patches  of  this  igneous  rock,  while  the  greater  portion  of  the  belt  has 
crumbled  beneath  the  action  of  the  lake  surf.  From  the  extremity  of 
Keweenaw  Point,  it  extends  westerly  for  about  eighteen  milts  in  a  curvi- 
linear direction,  and  passes  into  the  lake  at  the  eastern  point  of  Sand  bay. 
Throughout  most  of  this  distance  it  is  protected  from  the  action  of  the 
surf  by  a  thick  belt  of  Conglomerate,  but  at  several  points  the  water  has 
broken  through  this  sea-wall  and  excayated  spacious  harbors  in  the  igne- 
ous belt.  Copper,  Agate,  Grand  Marais,  and  Eagle  Harb'^rsare  included  in 
this  belt,  and  owe  their  origin  to  a  common  cause. 

This  belt  is  compose!  of  the  varieties  of  igneous  rock  known  as  amyg- 
daloid and  brown  gianular  trap.  The  amygdaloid  is  best  developed  in 
the  upper  portion  of  tlie  belt,  where  it  comes  in  contact  with  the  conglom- 
erate, presenting  a  dark  scoriaceous  mass,  full  of  vesicles,  somewhat 
compressed,  and  bearing  a  close  resemblance  to  certain  modern  volcanic 
products.  These  vesicles  are,  for  the  most  part,  filled  with  carbonate  of 
lime,  clilorite,  agates,  caitielians,  and  amethysts,  and  minerals  of  the  zeolite 
family.  As  we  penetrate  deeper  into  the  belt,  the  vesicular  structure  dis- 
appears, and  the  rock  passes  into  a  dark  brown  granular  trap,  consisting  of 
an  intimate  union  of  hornblende  and  labrador.  1'his  is  its  general  character; 
and  to  cite  the  numerous  places  where  it  has  been  observed,  would  be  to 
encumber  the  report  with  unnecessary  detail. 

This  belt  is  traversed  by  veins  containing  copper  and  silver,  several  of 
which  have  been  mined  ^  but  in  every  instance  unsuccessfully.  At  Eagle 
Harbor,  a  company  wrought  a  vein,  which,  for  a  time,  yielded  a  rich  per 
centage  of  copper.  Between  5,000  and  G,000  pounds  were  taken  from 
the  vein  within  a  comparatively  limited  space;  but  as  the  miners  sank 
deeper,  tlie  copper  disappeared.  The  range  of  the  vein  was  limited  on 
the  south  by  the  conglomerate,  and  on  the  north  by  the  lake.  At  the 
surface  it  was  two  feet  in  width,  and  filled  in  with  luumonite  and  native 
copper.  The  shaft  was  commenced  about  two  hundred  feet  north  ot  the 
junction  of  the  rocks,  and  extended  to  the  depth  of  winety  seven  feet. 
At  that  depth  the  vein  had  contracted  to  three  inches,  and  was  barren  of 
copper.  The  best  mining-ground  is  undoubtedly  beneatli  the  bed  of  the 
lake;  but  to  reach  it  woulcl  require  a  deep  shaft,  a  long  gallery,  and  aii 
expensive  apparatus  for  ventilation.  The  company  were  not  disposed  to 
embark  in  an  undertaking,  the  labor  of  which  was  certain,  while  success 
was  precarious.  Several  other  veins  in  the  northern  range  were  explored 
by  the  oiniipany,  with  no  better  results. 

At  Huwes's  island,  near  Agate  Harbor,  a  vein  was  opened  by  the  Cy- 
press River  Company,  which  yielded  rich  specimens  of  copper  and  silver, 
but,  in  the  downward  progress,  they  disappeared. 

Witii  a  single  exception,  (northwest  quarter  of  section  58,  range  .'JO.)  we 
have  excluded  every  tmct  wittiin  this  belt'  from  the  list  of  mineral  hinds, 
believing  that  it  contains  no  veins  which  will  be  permanently  produciive. 

*  Aspects  ol'  Nature,  Vol;  II. 


Doc.  No.  69. 


61 


granite  in  rouhded 

northern  portion  of 
dth,  and  preserves  a 
se.  It  forms  a  seg- 
may  be  regarded  as 
id  are  dotted  with 
tion  of  tlie  belt  has 
m  the  extremity  of 
sen  milts  in  a  curvi- 
i  point  of  Sand  bay. 
m  the  action  of  the 
)oints  the  water  has 
harbors  in  the  igne- 
rborsare  included  in 

)ck  known  as  arnyg- 
j  best  developed  in 
:t  with  the  conglom- 
vesicles,  somewhat 
lin  modern  volcanic 
!d  with  carbonate  of 
linerals  of  the  zeolite 
licular  structure  dis- 
ar  trap,  consisting  of 
ts  general  character; 
erved,  would  be  to 


is 


nd  silver,  several  of 
sfuUy.  At  Eagle 
yielded  a  rich  per 
were  taken  fromr 
as  the  miners  sank 
Bin  was  limited  on 
the  lake.  At  the 
imonite  and  native 
d  feet  north  ot  the 
♦linety  seven  feet, 
md  was  barren  of 
ath  the  bed  of  the 
ng  gallery,  and  ari 
re  not  disposed  to 
ain,  while  success 
ige  were  explored 

)pened  by  the  Cy- 
copper  and  silver, 

58,  range  .30.)  we 
I  of  mineral  lands, 
liently  produciive. 


To  the  west  of  Sand  bay  about  ten  miles,  and  north  of  the  first  trap- 
pean  range,  narrow  belts  of  trap  have  been  observed  in  two  places,  to  wit: 
on  section  28,  township  58,  range  32;  and  on  sections  1  and  6,  between 
ranges  32  and  33,  township  67.  The  nature  of  the  ground  is  such  that 
tliey  can  be  traced  but  a  short  distance  inland.  Whether  they  are  a  pro- 
longation of  the  belt  just  described,  or  detached,  intercalated  masses,  it  is 
impossible  to  determine.  The  character  of  the  rock  is  highly  amygdaloi- 
dalj  and  chlorite  enters  largely  into  its  composition.  Imperfect  indications 
of  veins  exist,  one  of  which  was  explored  by  the  Lalce  Shore  Mining 
Company  yielding  little  or  no  copper. 

In  the  mor* compact  varieties,  a  concretionary  structure  is  sometimes 
observalble.  Parallel  bands  of  different  colors,  a  few  inches  in  width> 
traverse  the  mass  in  waving  lines,  or  are  arranged  in  circular  forms.  This 
same  arrangement  is  seen  more  strikingly  illustrated  in  the  trap  on  Hays's 
Point,  near  Copper  Harbor.  The  direction  and  arrangement  of  these  lines 
is  illustrated  in  .  .  . 

Fij.3, 


[the  above  wood  cut  This  structur'^  is  occasionally  found  in  all  igneous 
Irocks,  and  undoubtedly  results  from  chemical  affinity,  by  which  the  par- 
|ticles  assume  a  concretionary  arrangement. 

About  a  mile  south  of  this  trap  belt,  and  separated  from  it  by  a  deposit 
[of  conglomerate  and  coarse  sandstone,  which,  in  places,  expands  to  a 
[thickness  of  more  than  3,0(0  feet,  occurs  the  northern  trap  range  of 
jKevyeenaw  Point.  It- will  be  seen,  by  inspecting  the  map,  that  these  two 
Ibelts  of  igneous  rocks,  in  thsir  westerly  prolongation,  preserve  a  remaik- 
ible  parallelism. 

This  range  does  not  appear  to  have  been  the  result  of  one,  but  of  suc- 
lessive  overflows;  for  we  not  only  find  the  igneous  materials  arranged  in 
Dafallel  bands,  and  exhibiting  great  diversity  in  external  characters,  but 
Rve  also  find  numerous  intercalations  of  conglomerate  of  inconsiderable 
thickness,  but  extending  for  miles  in  a  linear  direction — these  mixed  pro- 
lucts  being  associated  in  regular  beds,  having  a  common  bearing  and 
Inclination,  so  that  the'  inexperienced  observer  is  inclined  to  refer  the 
^hole  to  a  common  origin.  This  deception  is  still  further  increased  by 
)bserving  hues  of  pseudo  stratification  in  the  trap  conforaiing  to  tliose 
)f  the  associated  sedimentary  rocks.* 

This  range  starts  from  the  liead  of  Keweenaw  Point,  below  Manitou 

Island,  and,  sweeping  round  in  a  crescent  form  nearly  conforming  to  the 

f^Brend  of  the  coast,  crosses  the  western  arm  of  Portage -lake,  where  it 

||  "This  pseudo-Stratification  has  been  observed  by  De  la  Rijche  in  the  granite  of  Curnwaii, 

Ind  iR  supposed  by  hiiii  io  result  from  a  tendency  in' the  materjuls  of  a  cooling  mass  to  arrange 

^  jbemstlvea  in  beds,  particularly  near  the  surface.— Geoiogj/  of  Oornwall. 


62 


Doc.  No.  69. 


A 


'■,i 


f!  J.  j( 
'1. 


it: 


seems  to  lose  its  distinctive  character.  Towards  the  valley  of  the  Little 
Montreal  river,  it  crops  out  in  bare  precipitous  cliffs;  but  the  northwestern 
slope  is  gentle,  the  rock  rarely  emerging  to  the  surface. 

The  following  are  the  elevations  of  this  range  at  different  points,  as  ap- 
proximatively  determined  by  the  barometer:  On  section  13,  township  68, 
range  28,  467  feet.  On  the  line  between  sections  15  and  16,  township 
.58,  range  29,  about  three  miles  inland  from  Grand  Marais  Harbor,  730  feet. 
Between  the  Copper  Falls  and  the  Northwestern  mines,  section  24,  town- 
ship 58,  range  31 ,  630  feet.  This  range  skirts  the  valley  of  Eagle  river 
on  the  west,  and  rises  in  overhanging  cliffs  to  the  height  of  two  or  three 
hundred  feet.  The  Albion  cliff,  near  the  northwest  qu^er  of  section 
10,  township  57,  range  32,  may  be  regarded  as 'the  culmniatinj^  ])oint, 
attai'<ing  an  altitude,  as  determined  by  Mr.  Hodge,  of  800  feet  above  the 
level  of  Lake  Superior,  Between  the  Albion  mines  and  Portage  lake, 
the  hills  present  for  the  most  part  a  rounded  outline,  and  the  underlying 
rocks  are  covered  I    'ver  with  accumulations  of  water  worn  materials. 

Interstratified  with  this  belt,  throughout  its  entire  range,  we  observe 
numerous  lenticular  masses  of  conglomerate,  Avhich  appear  to  affect  the 
courses  of  veins,  ns  well  as  their  productiveness.  The  phenomena  ex- 
hibited by  the  passage  of  a  vein  through  different  belts  of  rock  will  be 
described  in  detail  under  another  head. 

Local  details. — The  trap  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  Ke\yeenaw  Point 
(sections  15  and   22,  township  58,   range   27)   is   more  compact  and 
crystalline -than  the  northern  belt  before  described,  and  is  traversed  by  I 
small  veins  containing  native  copper.     Near  the  centre  of  section  22,  a| 
band  of  conglomerate  from  fifty  to  One  hundred  feet  in  thicknes?  is  ob- 
served, dipping  to  the  north;  but  it  can  be  traced  only  for  a  short  distance  I 
inland,  in  consequence  of  the  drift  which  there  reposes  on  the  rocks.    A! 
few  yards  south  of  the  extremity  of  the  point,  and  near  the  north  line  ofJ| 
section  27,  a  band  of  conglomerate  is  observed,  attaining  a  thickness P 
of  sixty  feet,  bearing  N.  70°  W.,  and  dipping  NE.  16°.    The  underlyingj 
trap  differs  from  that  which  overlies  the  detrital  rocks,  being  more  amyg-j 
daloidal,  and  offering  less  adhesion  between  the  particles.     This  is  sup- 
posed to  bo  a  continuation  of  the  great  metalliferous  belt,  as  developed  at| 
the  Cliff,  North  American,  and  Northwest  mines. 

In  this  township  (58)  numerous  explorations  were  made  by  the  Bos- 
ton and  Lake  Superior  Mining  Company;   and,  although  they  found F, 
native  copper  at  several  points,  they  did  not  succeed  in  developing  a  val-fj 
uable  vein.     In  the  adjoining  township  west  (range  28)  and  north  of  thef 
Little  Montreal  river,  four  alternations  of  trap  and  conglomerate  were  ob-f 
served.     Near  the  conglomerate  ridge,  the  trap  is  low;  but,  north  of  the! 
Montreal  river,  it  rises  in  elevated  cliffs,  which  continue  through  the! 
township,  ranging  in  an  easterly  and  westerly  direction.     These  cliffsl 
are  composed  of  hornblende,  in  large  acicular  crystals,  imbedded  in 
paste  of  labrador.     Near  their  base  is  seen  a  band  of  conglomerate  fronii 
twenty  to  fifty  feet  in  thickness,  dipping  ncrth  at  an  angle  of  40:^,  whichl 
can  be  traced  alir.ost  uninterruptedly  for  p.  distance  of  twenty-five  miles* 
At  the  Clilf  and  North  American  mines  there  is  a  bed  of  chlorite  rock, 
corresponding  in  position  to  this  band.     The  trappean  rocks  above  andl^ 
below  this  belt  exhibit  great  differences  in  lithological  character — the, 
upper  being  highly  crystalUne,  while  the  lower  are  amygdaloidal.     This^ 
belt,  lying  below  the  conglomerate,  is  abundantly  stored  with  copper;« 


Doc.  No.  69. 


63 


of  the  Llttlo 
loithwestern 

)oints,  as  ap- 
ownship  58, 
6,  township 
bor,  730  feet, 
ion  24,  town- 
f  Eagle  river 
two  or  three 
jter  of  section 
natin^  ])oint, 
"eet  above  the 
Portage  lake, 
^G  underlying 
aterials. 
e,  we  observe 
vr  to  affect  the 
henomena  ex- 
f  rock  will  be 

xyeenaw  Point 
compact  and 
s  traversed  by 
f  section  22,  a  j 
hicknes?  is  ob- 1 
short  distance  I 
the  rocks.    A I 
north  line  ofl 
p-  a  thickness! 
le  underlying] 
jr  more  amyg-j 
This  is  sup- 
is  developed  atf 

le  by  the  BoS' 
'h  they  found 
veloping  a  val- 
id north  of  the 
lerate  were  ob- 
it, north  of  thej 
through  the| 
These  cliffs 
nibedded  in  a 
glomerate  from 
of  40 r\  which! 
nty-five  milesj 
'  chlorite  rock,^' 
)cks  above  andl 
character — the 
iuloidal.    Thisi 
with  copper; 


but,  being  more  destructible  than  the  cliffs  of  overlying  greenstone,  it  is 
rarely  exposed  on  the  surface.    , 

In  township  5S  the  Massachusetts  Mining  Company  opened  several 
veins  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Montreal  river,  none  of  which  proved  pro- 
ductive. The  Alliance  Company  tested  to  a  limited  extert  a  vein  on 
section  8.  The  Pittsburg  and  Uoston  Company  also  held  a  location, 
which  they  subsequently  abandoned. 

This  ridge  extends  in  an  easterly  and  westerly  direction  through 
ranges  29  and  30.  In  the  latter  range  (township  58,  section  15)  is  situ- 
ated  the  Northwest  mine.  The  thin  band  of  conglomerate  before  de- 
scribed IS  here  exposed  on  the  southern  slope  of  the  hill,  with  greenstone 
above  and  amygdaloid  and  compact  trap  below.  In  its  passage  through 
the  adjoining  ranges  36  and  35,  (townships  58  and  57,)  the  trap  chain 
curves  rapidly  to  the  southwest,  and  is  prolonged  in  that  direction.  The 
following  section  represents  the  relative  position  of  the  bedded  trap  and 
sandstone  on  the  northern  slope  of  the  ridge  (section  12)  at  the  Copper 
Falls  mine: 


Fig.  4. 


is    15  GO   20U 

Dip  2d°. 


6U  50  50     4U0 


Dip  26°. 


The  first  rock  seen  in  the  stream  is  amygdaloid,  resting  on  sandstone, 

I  which  bears  north  78°  west,  and  dips  20°  to  the  north.     The  thickness 

[of  this  trap  belt  could  not  be  determined,  the  northern  portion  of  it  being 

[concealed  by  drift.     The  sandstone  is  com|)osedof  coarse  materials,  and 

^contains,  in  places,  rounded  pebbles.     Near  the  line  of  junction  it  ex- 

ihibits  the  effects  of  metamorphism,  being  dark-colored  and  firmly  cemented, 

[Receding  from  the  line,  we  find  it  variegated  in  color  and  less  compact. 

|To  this  succeeds  another  beltof  trap,  conformable  in  bearing  and  inclinaton, 

below  which  is  aaother  beltof  sandstone.  Thus  there  are  no  less  than  five 

repetitions  of  sandstone  and  trap  within  the  distance  of  2,000  feet.    As 

a  general  oI>servati(>ri,  the  upper  portions  of  these  sandstone  belts  are  much 

more  changed  by  heat  than  the  lower — an  important  fact,  which  will  be 

considered  in" discussing  the  origin  of  these  rocks  and  their  mode  ftf  for- 

nation. 

The  sandstone,  where  thus  exposed,  presents  a  compact  texture,  breaks 
with  a  nnging  sound  and  a  conchoidal  fractuire,  and  exhibits  many  of 
ihe  external  characters  of  jasper.  •  It  is  traversed  by  numerous  divisional 
>lanes,  which  are  quite  as  distinct  as  the  original  lines  of  bedding.  The 
orkings  of  the  Copper  Falls  Company  are  in  the  436-foot  beft. 
Between  the  mouth  of  Eagle  river  and  the  Phcenix  Company's  works, 
ileven  of  these  belts,  thus  intercalated,  are  noticed  within  the  distance  of 
mile.    Beyond  the  Albion  range  those  belts  cannot  be  traced,  the  rocks 


i^ 


I 


i 

! 


I! 


64 


Dbic.  No.  69. 


being  no  longer  exposed  in  bare  ledges,  but  covered  beneath  •accumula- 
tions of  sand,  gravel,  and  clay. 

The  trap  beds  thus  intercalated  are  amygdnlnidal  or  granular,  bi:t  nn 
their  upper  portions  often  exliibit  a  brecciatcd  appearance.  Tliey  afford 
numerous  examples  of  veins  yielding  native  copper  and  silver,  but  do  not 
expand  to  a  sufficient  width  to  allow  extended  subterranean  workings. 

The  upper  portion  of  the  crystalline  belt  described  as  occurring  in  range 
28,  township  68,  and  thence  traced  through  the  intervening  townships 
•west,  is  exposed  a  few  rods  south  of  the  upper  shaft  at  the  PhoMiix  mine. 
Here  thf  feldspar  predominates  over  the  hornblende,  giving  the  rock  a 
light  color.  The  vein  is  observed  to  be  disturbed  and  otherwise  affected 
as  it  approaches  this  mass. 

The  Albion  range  is  capped  with  this  rock,  which  appears  in  abrupt 
precipices  two  or  three  hundred  feet  in  height.  At  the  Cliff  mijie,  the 
upper  portion  of  the  precipice  is  composed  of  a  dark  crystalline  green- 
stone— the  hornblende  largely  predominating,  which  exhibits  a  mottled 
or  varioloid  appearance.  At  the  Albion  mine  the  feldspar  again  predomi- 
nates, and  the  rock  becomes  in  some  degree  porphyritic.  Beneath  this 
is  a  bed  of  chlorite  rock  of  a  slaty  structure,  varying  in  thickness  from 
six  to  ten  feet,  below  which  we  nn  ujth  a  belt  of  amygdaloid  and  gran- 
ular trap.  Proceeding  along  the  treii.  of  the  Albion  range  in  a  south- 
westerly direction,  the  amygdaloid  is  found  to  dip  beneath  the  surface.  At 
the  Cliff  mine  it  is  struck  near  the  base  of  the  precipice;  but  at  the  Albion 
mine,  three  miles  distant,  it  is  reached  at  the  depth  of  ninety  seven  feet. 

This  belt,  the  position  and  rans^e  of  which  we  have  endeavored  to  de- 
lineate, is  the  most  metalliferous  of  any  on  Keweenaw  Point.  Throughout 
its  entire  extent,  it  seems  to  be  characterized  by  well-defined  veins.  In 
it  are  situated  the  Cliff,  North  An)erican,  Albion,  Northwest,  and  North- 
western mines;  and  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  others  equally  valuable 
will  be  developed  along  the  line  of  its  outcrop.  ' 

t^outhern  trap  range. — Returning  to  the  head  of  Keweenaw  Point,  we 
find' another  range  of  trap,  forming  the  souiliern  boundary  of  the  \-alley 
of  the  Little  Montreal  river,  and  stretching  westerly  in  a  line  nearly  par- 
allel with  the  northern  chain.  This  is  known  as  the  Bohemian  range, 
and  differs  from  the  northern  both  in  lithological  character  and  in  the  mode 
of  its  occurrence. .  While  the  former,  before  described,  is  composed  of  nu- 
merous beds  of  trap,  in  the  main  of  the  amygdaloid  and  granular  varieties, 
interstratified  with  the  detrital  rocks,  the  southern  range  consists  of  avast 
crystalline  mass,  forming  an  anticlinal  axis,  flanked  on  the  north  by  the 
bedded  trap  and  conglomerate,  and  on  the  south  by  conglomerate  and 
sandstone. 

The  contour  of  the  unbedded  trap  is  also  very  different  from  that  of  the 
bedded  trap.  We  nowhere  recognise  the  stair  like  structure  in  the  hills; 
they  are  enher  dome-shaped  or  rounded. 

The  protrusion  of  so  vast  a  mass  of  heated  matter  has  changed  in  a 
marked  deeree  the  associated  sedimentary  rocks,  causing  thorn  to  resemble 
igneous  products.  Thus,  on  section  30,  township  58,  range  27,  by  tho 
lake  shore,  is  seen  a  metamorphosed  sar.dstone  resembling  jasiper.  Its 
general  bearing  is  east  and  west.  In  places  it  assumes  a  vesicular  appear- 
ance, while  otiier  portions  are  brecciated,  and  take  into  their  cojriposition 
chloriic  and  feldspar,  in  some  hard  specimens  the  lines  of  stratification 
can  be  recognised.    The  mass  is  about  100  feet  thick;  and  surmounted  by 


Doc.  No.  69. 


e5 


ith  'accumula- 


dternating  bands  of  porphyry  and  a  chlorite  rock  known  as  rotten  trap, 
which  may  be  regarded  as  a  volcanic  a«h.  Theae  veins  attain  a  thickness  of 
only  a  few  feet.  Proroeding  along  the  southern  coast  of  Keweenaw  Point 
in  a  westerly  direction,  at  the  old  fish  station  (section  35)  we  again  observe 
this  metamorphosed  rock  forming  one  of  the  jutting  points  of  tne  bay;  but 
here  it  assumes  a  different  character,  as  though  it  had  been  subjected  to  a 
heat  more  intense  and  longer  continued.  All  traces  of  stratification  have 
disappeared,  and  the  rock  has  become  transformed  into  a  red,  compact 
jasper,  breaking  with  a  conchoidal  fracture,  and  traversed  by  numerous 
divisional  planes.  Where  it  comes  in  coi.tact  with  the  trap  below  it  pre- 
sents a  homogeneous  texture.  All  traces  of  its  mechanical  origin  are 
obliterated,  and  it  is  difficult  to  determine  where  the  igneous  rock  ceases 
and  the  aqueous  begins. 

In  section  30,  township  68,  range  27,  west  of  the  Little  Montreal  river, 
it  is  seen  again  on  the  coast.  The  Dure  Hills  here  approach  the  coast 
and  rise  up  in  overhanging  cliffs  to  the  height  of  80  fc^t,  and  jasper 
appears  to  be  the  prevailing  rock.  From  this  point  it  c?n  be  traced  inland 
in  a  westerly  direction,  through  sections  29  and  30,  in  the  same  township 
and  range,  to  the  west  line  of  section  24,  township  58,  range  29,  expand- 
ing to  a  width  of  about  half  a  mile.  The  west  line  ''  this  se-tion  passes 
,  over  Mt.  Houghton,  an  isolated  and  dome-shaped  mountain,  ising  to  the 
height  of  884  feet  above  the  lake,  and  forming  the  culmir  ■  ng  point  in 
this  portion  of  the  region.  Its  summit  is  jasper  for  the  c  stance  of  150 
feet,  and  it  is  difficult  to  trace  any  \  ell-characteriz'- 1  ''Tiesof  stratificcuion 
in  the  mass.  On  the  southern  flank  the  mass  appai  'iiitl/  dips  to  the  S8  W. 
On  the  northern  slope  a  perpendicular  ledge,  20  feet  in  height,  is  observed, 
dipping  slightly  to  the  east;  to  the  northeast  two  low  ridges  of  jasper  are 
seen  bearing  nearly  east  and  west,  and  connecting  with  the  Bare  Hills  by 
the  lake  shore.  The  rock  is  extremely  fissile — so  much  so,  that  it  is  dif- 
ficult to  procure  good  specimens.  In  tracing  it  west,  it  gradually  passes 
into  a  compact  trap,  with  here  and  there  an  alraoud-shaped  cavity,  filled 
with  quartz  or  calc-spar. 

This  rock  we  suppose  originally  to  have  been  sandstone,  and  the 
peculiarities  which  we  have  described  to  have  resulted  from  contact  with 
the  mass  of  trap  beneath. 

Unsuccessful  attempts  at  mining  near  the  summit  of  this  mountain 
were  made  by  the  Alliance  Company 

Near  Lac  la  Belle  the  Bohemian  ;  .;- ; ,  attains  the  height  of  864  feet; 
at  its  base,  and  between  the  irappean  anu  detrital  rocks,  is  a  belt  of  chlorite 
in  foliated  masses  which  expands  to  about  160  feet  in  thickness.  The 
occurrence  of  a  bed  or  mass  of  thir  mineral  between  trap  and  sandstone  is 
not  unfrequently  observed  in  this  district.  The  lower -portion  of  the  ele- 
vation is  here  made  up  of  a  peculiar  rock  composed  of  chlorite  and  labrador 
in  nearly  eqiuil  proportions.  These  two  minerals  are  each  in  a  distinctly 
crystalline  condition,  and  the  feldspathic  portion  is  of  a  light  reddish  color. 
The  mass  is  filled  irregularly  with  crystals  of  magnetic  iron  ore,  wlfich 
occasionally  form  a  large  portion  of  the  rock.  Particles  of  copper  pyrites 
are  also  scattered  through  it.  This  variety  of  rock  seems  to  pass  gradu^ 
ally  into  the  dark  colored,  fine  grainedi  greenstone  which  occurs  on  the 
summitof  the  mountain.  •.™    


^ 


Doe.  No.  69. 


'>ll 


The  following  section,  from  Copper  Harbor  to  Lac  la  Belle,  exhibits 

not  only  the  contours  of  the  country,  but  the  relative  association  of  the 

detrital  rocks  and  the  bedded  and  unbedded  trap  : 

Pig.  5. 


grow  P 

HP 


I 


•'/ 


:.n' 


'  Copper  harbor. 


.  Brock  way's  mount. 
421. 


North  trap  range. 
586. 


Littte  Montreal  river. 

Sd4. 


The  Bohemian  range,  as  before  remarked, 
forms  the  line  of  upheaval  of  the  bedded 
trap  and  conglomerate  on  the  north,  and 
the  conglomerate  and  sandstone  on  the 
south^  The  conglomerate,  north  of  the 
axis  of  elevation,  rarely  attains  a  greater 
inclination  than  45°;  but  on  the  southern 
slope,  the  sandstone  is  observed  dipping  at 
an  angle  of  78'.  This  is  beautifully  ex- 
hibited by  the  lake  shore,  on  section  36, 
township  58,  range  29.  The  sandstone  is 
seen  in  the  bottom  of  the  bay,  composed' 
of  alternating  bards  of  white  and  red, 
sweeping  round  in  curves,  conformable  to 
the  course  of  the  trappean  rocks.  As  we 
recede  a  few  miles  to  the  south,  the  strata 
are  observed  to  be  nearly  horizontal.  la 
the  two  adjoining  townships  west,  this< 
range  preserves  its  distinctive  characterj' 
but  beyond,  it  sinks  down  into  sloping" 
hills  two  or  three  hundred  feet  in  height. 
It  exhibits  some  lithological  changes  in  its 
course :  thus,  at  the  Suffolk  mine,  now 
abandoned,  (section  16,  township  57, 
range  31,)  the  rock  beconies  beautifully 
porphyritic — crystals  of  red  labrador  are 
scattered  through  a  dark  feldspathic  base, 
with  sulphuret  of  copper  disseminated  in 
irregular  masses.  '  .r  i\ir 

This  range,  like  the  northern  one,  is 
traversed  by  veins  for  the  most  part  at 
right  angles  to  the  direction  of  the  forma- 
tion; but,  unlike  the  veins  of  the  northern 
range,  they  yield  the  sw^Awrcfs  of  copj)er, 
instead  of  native  copper.  The  only  mines  now  wrought  are  the  Bohemian 
and  Lac  la  Belle,  which  will  be  particularly  described  under  another  head. 
Numerous  explorations  have  been  made  along  the  southern  boundary  of 
the  trap,  but  in  no  instance  successfully.  The  abandoned  mines  are  in- 
dicated by  an  appropriate  symbol  on  the  accompanying  map. 

The  fissiie  chlorite  rock  described  as  occurring  at  the  base  of  the  Bo- 
hemian mountain  is  found  to  continue  almost  uninterniptedly  to  Portage 
lake,  and  always  preserving  the  same  relation  to  the  trap  and  sandstone. 
The  prevailing  color  is  green,  but  in  places  it  acquires  a  reddish  tinge, 
The  trap,  however,  in  the  lower  part  of  township  57,  range  33,  assimilates 
more  to  that  of  the  northern  range.  At  the  Forsyth  Company's  works, 
(section  33,)  a  band  of  greenstone  is  observed  forming  the  crown  of  ihe  hill, 
with  amygdaloid  resting  beneath.  In  the  adjoining  township  south,  the 
is  seen  to  occupy  low  parallel  ridges,  and  is  exposed  in  the  beds  of 


Bohemian 
864. 


mount. 


Lac  La  Belle. 


trap 


lelle,  exhibits 
ciation  of  the 

fore  remarked, 
f  the  bedded 
le  north,  and 
sfone  on  the 

north  of  the 
lins  a  greater 
1  the  southern 
ired  dipping  at 
jautifully  ex- 
1  section  36, 
;  sandstone  is 
ly,  composed 
lite  and  red, 
onformable  to 
icks.  As  we 
ith,  the  strata 
mzontal.  In 
»s  west,  this 
ve  character  J 

into  sloping^ 
et  in  height, 
ihanges  in  its 
mine,  now 
)wnship  67, 
s  beautifully 

labrador  are 
spathic  baso, 
seminated  in 

lern  one,  is 
nost  part  at 
f  the  forma- 
the  northern 
ts  of  copper, 
e  Bohemian 
lother  head. 
x)undary  of 
lines  are  in- 

of  the  Bo- 
to  Portage 
sandstone, 
dish  tinge, 
assimilates 
y's  works, 
of  the  hill, 
south,  the 
the  beds  of 


Doc.  T^o.  k^. 


*i4 
67 


\\ie  water- courses.  Much  of  it  is  amygdaloidal,  intermixed  with  the 
greenish  and  rcddish  fissile  rock  before  described.  Indications  of  copper 
exist,  but  the  veins  are  not  well  defined. 

[  In  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  8,  the  Trap  Rock  Company  perforated 
the  rock  to  the  depth  of  seventy  ieet,  th«|n  drifted  sixty-six  feet  from  the 
vein  for  the  purpose  of  discovery.  The  veinstone  here  consisted  of  small 
strings  jf  quartz,  calc  spar,  and  chlorite,  arranged  in  parallel  layers, 
to  the  width  often  inches,  with  some  copper  disseminated;  but  the  indica- 
tions were  not  sufficiently  encouraging  to  induce  them  to  continue  the 
work.  This  vein  ranges  and  dips  with  'he  formation — its  course  being 
north  50*>  east;  inclination  to  the  northwejit  6(»°. 

On  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  19,  township  56,  range  32,  are 
the  abandoned  works  of  the  New  York  and  Michigan  Company.  Their 
exploitations  were  prosecuted  on  the  left  bank  of  a  small  stream,  near  the 
junction  of  the  trap  and  sandstone.  1'he  trap  here  consists  of  the  reddish 
and  greenish  chlorite  rock,  with  imbedded  amygdaloid.  The  surface 
exhibits  fjew  indications  of  a  vein;  but,  according  to  the  report  of  Messrs. 
Grout  &  Douglass,  who  explored  this  location,  native  copper  was  found 
in  the  small  veins  and  adjoining  fissures.  A  drift  was  extended  45  feet 
into  the  rock;  a  sluxft  was  also  sunk  on  the  opposite  bank  to  the  depth  of 
18  feet,  intersecting  a  belt  of  the  green  rock,  according  to  the  above  au- 
thority, highly  charged  with  copper.  Altiiongh  the  workmen  met  with 
much  to  encourage,  they  did  not  succeed  in  developing  a  valuable  vein. 

On  one  of  the  aflluents  of  Torch  river,  (section  36,  township  36,  range 
33,)  the  junction  of  the  trap  is  beautifully  displayed.  The  stream  ia 
precipitated  over  a  wall  of  trap  80  feet  in  height,  and  thence  winds  its  way 
thri^gh  a  deep  gorge  which  it  has  excavated  in  the  sandstone.  The 
conglomerate  differs  from  the  lenticular  bands  described  as  occurring  with 
the  bedded  trap,  consisting  of  arenaceous  particles  loosely  aggregated,  and 
containing,  near  the  base,  quartzose  pebbles.  Patches  of  green  and  red 
ochrey  clay  occur  in  different  parts  of  the  mass,  in  a  concretionary  form. 

The  red  and  green  chlorite  rock,  fissile,  but  not  stratified,  enveloping 
masses  of  amygdaloid,  is  seen  on  the  left  bank  of  the  s.ream,  traversed  by 
seams  of  quartz  and  calc-spar,  underlying  to  the  NW.  50°.  Above  this 
the  rock  is  greenstone,  presenting  a  wall-like  appearance,  and  rising  ia 
overhanging  cliffs. 

The  precipice  was  perforated  with  a  gallery,  where  the  quartz  seams 
are  observed  near  its  base,  to  the  distance  of  one  hundred  feet.  Several 
seams  were  crossed  in  the  progress  of  the  work  which  yielded  native  cop- 
per, but  nowhere  did  the  vein  concentrate  with  sufficient  power  and  rich- 
ness to  warrant  the  expenditure  of  much  capital.  This  work  was  prose- 
cuted by  the  Douglass  Houghton  Mining  Company,  under  the  direciion 
of  Messrs.  Grout  &  Douglass,  and  their  report  to  the  company  contains  a 
detailed  account  of  their  explorations  and  the  character  of  the  rocks. 

The  trap  in  this  vicinity  lias  not  that  firmness  and  liveliness  of  color 
which  belong  to  the  truly  metalliferous  belts.  Evidences  of  copper  exist 
in  the  shape  of  small  strings  and  leaders,  but  they  nowhere  concentrate 
and  form  what  minevs  call  a  "champion  lode." 

The  Quincy  mine,  (section  26,  township  55,  range  34,)  near  the  west 
arm  of  Portage  lake,  affords  as  good  a  prospect  for  mining  enterprise  as 


:i      t. 


68 


Doc.  No. 


I      '  'Hi' 


|l      .:i         I 


tip    . 


t 

i 


any  which  we  have  observed  in  this  vicinity,  although  this  cannot  be  re- 
garded as  among  the  best  mining-ground. 

The  rode  here  consists  of  a  dark-brown  chlorite  trap,  with  beds  of 
amygdaloid.  Between  the  junction  of  these  rocks  native  copper  is  ob- 
served in  sheets,  and  disseminaited  in  a  vein-stone  of  .calc-spar  and  chlo- 
rite. 

The  vfeins,  or  rather  the  main  lodes,  range  and  dip  with  the  lormation, 
and  send  off  branches  at  nearly  right  angles. 

The  culminating  point  of  the  trap  here  does  not  exceed  400  feet.  The 
northern  flank  is  covered  with  detritus,  and  the  rock  at  rare  intervals 
emerges  to  the  surface.  Hence  there  is  really  a  small  portion  of  the  trap 
range  in  this  vicinity  which  is  adapted  to  mining. 

In  the  region  of  Portage  lake,  the  shock  by  which  the  bedded  trap  and 
conglomerate  were  elevated  does  not  appear  to  have  been  attended  with 
the  protrusion  of  vast  crystalline  masses,  forming  a  long  range,  like  the 
Bohemian  mountains,  or  rounded  groups,  as  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Onton- 
agon, but  simply  to  have  caused  a  vertical  dislocation,  lifting  up  the 
beds  on  one  side  of  the  fissure,  while  the  corresponding  beds  on  the 


Fig.  6. 


opposite  side  remained  comparatively  undiisf- 
turbed.  There  can  be  rio  doubt  that  there 
existed  a  deeply- seated  and  powerful  fissure, 
extending  from  the  head  of  Keweenaw  Point 
to  the  western  limits  of  the  district,  along  the 
line  of  which  the  volcanic  forces  'were,  at 
different  times,  powerfully  exerted — similar  in 
character  to  those  in  Guatemala,  Peru,  and 
Java — the  seats  of  modern  volcanic  actloa. 
The  only  instance  observed  in  this  part  of  the  district,  of  trap  occur- 
ring remote  from  the  line  of  the  fissur-.?  is  in  the  northest  corner  of  town- 
ship 49,  range  36,  fourteen  miles  t-outhwest  of  the  head  of  Keweenaw 
bay.  It  is  known  as  Silver  mountain,  {Ivcus  a  von  lucendo,)  which  rises 
up  isolated  and  dome -shaped  to  the  height  of  a  thousand  feet,  and 
occupies  an  area  equal  to  three  sections.  The  surrounding  plain  is 
covered  with  deep  deposites  of  clay,  resting  on  sandstone,  in  nearly  hori- 
zontal strata.  The  rock  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain  consists  of  labra- 
dor  and  hornblende,  the  former  largely  predominating,  and  arranged  in  dis- 
tinct crystals,  with  nodules  of  quartz  and  chalcedony  scattered  through 
the  mass.  The  flanks  of  the  mountain  exhibit  nearly  the  same  Jitho- 
logical  characters.  Mining  operations  were  prosecuted  there  a  few  years 
since  by  the  National  Company.  The  hill  was  perforated  by  a  gallery  to 
the  distance  of  one  hundred  feet,  along  the  course  of  a  fissure,  dipping 
63°  to  the  northwest.  The  attle  which  lay  about  the  opening  was  mi- 
nutely examined,  but  we  failed  to  detect  any  traces  of  copper;  nor  did  the 
appearance  of  the  wall-rock  or  the  fissure  alFord  any  well  founded  hopes 
of  the  presence  of  metalliferous  depowites.  The  rofek  at  the  entrance  of 
the  adit  appears  to  have  been  broken  by  the  elevatory  movement,  or  suc- 
cessive movements,  to  which  the  mass  had  been  subjected;  for  we  found 
the  enclosing  walls,  ground  and  polished.  In  other  places  rounded 
fragments  of  the  wall-rock  were  iiicludeu  in  the  fissure.  Near  the  mouth 
of  the  adit  the  rock  was  compact,  but,  on  penetrating  further,  it  became 
highly  crystalline.    Scoriae  and  amygdaloidal  patches  were .  observed 


J)gc.  J^o,  Ot. 


69 


lannot  be  re- 


le  tonnation^ 


ia  the  fissure,  as  though  they  had  been  injected  after  the  upheaval  of  the 
mass.     Near  the  summit  a  dike  is  seen  pursuing  a  zig-zag  direction. 

Boulders  of  granite  a  foot  in  diameter  and  fragments  of  sandstone 
are  strewn  over  the  summits.  Deep  grooves  and  scratches,  bearing  north 
20°  east,  are  seen  in  this  firm  and  crystalline  rock. 

Although  this  is  the  only  instance  observed  of  the  protrusion  of  the 
igneous  rocks  through  the  sedimeniary  strata  in  this  vicinity,  yet  evidences 
of  volcanic  disturbance  exist;  .ind  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  erup- 
tive masses  have  approached  near  the  surface,  without  breaking  through 
the  exterior  crust. 

Thus,  about  one-halfof  amile  from  the  southern  boundary  of  township 
50,  a  conical  knob  of  sandstone,  having  a  quaquaversal  dip,  is  observed^ 
the  strata  being  much  fractured  %nd  disturbed.  These  explorations  ^ere 
conducted  by  Mr.  HiJil.  ,...,,,,,„   . 


IIANGE    OP    THE    TRAP    BKTWEEN    PORTAGE    LAKE     AND    THE    MONTREAL 

;■:   y.\  t\  ■-'.■■:..  RIVER.  ,>.,,-.'        .-      ^     .', 

External  ckaracte  s. — Between  Portage  lake  and  the  Fire-Steel  river, 
the  trappean  rocks  are  less  distinctly  marked  than  on  Keweenaw  Point. 
They  appear  in  rounded  groups,  rather  than  in  parallel  chains;  but  be- 
yond this  point  they  again  rise  in  bold  cliffs,  which  attain  an  eleva- 
tion of  nearly  fourteen  hundred  feet  near  Agogebic  lake,  when  they 
again  sink  down  into  a  nearly  level  plain,  with  an  occasional  isolated 
knob.  This  is  their  character  between  the  last-mentioned  point  and  the 
Montreal  river.  T}<e  Porcupine  mountains  form  a  lateral  branch  of  the 
main  trap  range,  and  constitute  nearly  the  highest  points  in  the  district. 
The  trappean  rocks  are  extremely  variable  in  their  lithological  character, 
and  among  them  the  followhig  varieties  may  be  recognised: 

1.  Compact  irajt?-  -varying in  color  and  texture,  and  occasionally  taking 
ii^ito  its  composition  a  large  proportion  of  chlorite  and  a  greenish  magnesian 
.mineral.  Some  varieties  are  exceedingly  fine-grained  and  close  in  their 
texture,  so  that  they  break  almost  with  a  conchoidal  fracture ;  others  contain 
a  very  large  percentage  of  magnetic  oxide  of  iron,  and,  if  the  block  have 
an  angular,  prismatic  form,  and  remain  for  some  time  on  the  surface, 
it  acquires  magnetic  polarity.  To  the  presence  of  so  large  a  proportion  of 
iron  is  undoubtedly  due  the  irregular  variation  of  the  needle  so  well  known 
to  the  U near  surveyors  in  the  districts  underlaid  by  this  class  of  rocks. 
.  The  fluctuations  of  the  needle  often  indi«ate  the  presence  of  the  trappean 
rocks  where  they  are  effectually  concealed  by  a  thick  covering  of  detritu? 
and  soil.  '      ' 

•  2.  Amygdaloid. — This  variety  is  found  irregularly  scattered  through 
the  trap,  but  by  no  means  so  abundantly  as  west  of  the  Ontonagon  river. 
The  base  of  the  amygdaloidal  trap  is  generally  a  fine-grained,  homoge- 
neous, dark  colored  mixture  of  hornblende  and  labrador,  with  numerous 
amygdules— some  of  which  are  an  inch  in  th«ir  longitudinal  direction — 
filled  with  different  mineral  substances.  Between  the  Algonquin  lo- 
cation and  Agogebic  lake,  epidote  frequently  accompanies  the  amygdaloi- 
dal trap;  west  of  the  last  named  place,  it  resembles  more  nearly  the  trap 
of  Keweenaw  Point,  and  is  associated  with  large  quantities  of  the  zeolites. 
Where  epidote  fills  the  cavities  of  the  trap,  it  presents  a  radiated,  crystal- 
lized texture,  and  specimens  of  great  beauty  are  frequenily  obtained. 
Generally  the  vesicles  of  the  epidote  are  occupied  by  quartz,  often  radi- 


70 


Doc.  1^0.  69. 


Ufi 


'H 


Fi" 


1 

■ 

; ;.',.! 

'1 

1    :'    If" 

U 

ated.     The  quartz  is  frequently  colored  green  by  the  presence  of  epidote, 
and  in  such  cases  affords  beautiful  cabinet  specimens. 

The  zeolitic  minerals  pften  form  so  large  a  portion  of  the  rock  that  it 
disintegrates  and  falls  to  pieces  after  a  short  exposure.  At  the  Atlas 
Mining  Company's  location,  (section  18,  township  60,  range  44,)  now 
abandoned,  they  are  so  abundant  that  they  are  found  not  only  in  all  of  the 
vesicles  of  the  trap,  but  are  distributed  through  it  in  large  vein  like  sheets. 

3.  Porphyritic  trap. — The  base  of  this  rock  consists  of  fine  grained 
trap,  through  which  are  diffus;ed  long  and  distinct  crystals  of  foldspar, 
which,  being  white,  standout  against  the  dark  base  in  bold  relief.  This 
variety  is  found  in  loose  blocks  south  of  the  trap  range;  but  it  has  not 
been  observed  in  place  in  this  portion  of  the  district.  •    * 

4.  Trap  breccia. — This  is  a  mixture  of  arhygdaloidal  trap  and  quart- 
zose  fragments  resembling  altered  sandstone,  and  seems  to  have  been  the 
product  of  the  interfusion  of  the  two  rocks;  it  is  seen  at  the  Cushmaa 
location,  near  the  forks  of  the  Ontonagon,  (section  36,  township  60, 
range  41),)  and  also  a  rock  somewhat  similar  in  character  is  observed  at 
the  United  States  Company's  location,  a  mile  or  two  west. 

6.  Epidote  trap. — This  vari-^ity  occurs  at  many  points,  especially  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Ontonagon  river,  occupying  a  space  of  several  miles  in 
length.  The  compact  trap  often  passes  gradually  into  it,  the  epidote  re- 
placing the  hornblende.  The  seams  of  qi<artz  and  calcspar  containing 
copper  are  almost  always?  accompanied  by  epidote,  which  graduates  on 
either  side  into  compact  trap. 

The  varieties  of  epidote  rocks  are  as  numerous  as  those  of  the  green- 
stone trap.  Both,  in  fact,  occur  together  over  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  district;  and  though  the  proper  trap  is  by  far  the  predominating  rock, 
yet  there  are  sections  where  the  epidoie  forms  almost  mountain  masses. 
The  epidote,  however,  is  rarely  pure,  but  generally  mixed  with  quartz, 
forming  nodules  of  considerable  size.  Where  the  former  occurs  in  seams, 
or  veins,  it  is  much  more  pure,  and  possesses  a  crystaUine  structure, 
though  distinct  crystals  of  this  mineral  are  of  rare  occurrence.  Like  the 
proper  trap,  it  often  becomes  amygdaioidal,  the  amygdules  being  filled 
with  quartz  and  calc-spar.  On  the  United  States  location  the  trap  and 
epidote  are  seen  in-  alternating  bands,  the  cavities  of  the  former  being  filled 
with  epidote  and  quartz,  and  those  of  the  latter  with  quartz  and  calcspar. 

6.  Compact  quartz,  or  Jasper. — This  rock  occurs  abundantly  in  mountain 
rtiasses,  the  highest  summits  of  the  Porcupine  mountains  being  composed 
of  it.  It  varies  in  structure  considerably  at  different  points.  The  greater 
part  of  it,  however,  is  a  homogeneous  compact  jasper  of  a  deep,  brick-red 
color,  sometimes  traversed  by  thin  seams  lined  with  crystals  of  quartz. 
The  jasper  is  occasionally  divided  by  fine  lines  or  bands,  Avaved  or  con- 
torted, so  as  to  form  an  imperfect  ribbon  jasper,  but  at  other  points  particles 
of  white  quartz  are  mingled  •svith  the  red  jaspery  mass.  The  compact 
variety  of  quartz  rock  sometimes  shows  a  gradual  passage  into  quartzose 
porphyry,  with  occasional  imbedded  crystals  of  feldspar. 

I'he  quartzose  porphyry  occurs  in  very  large  n)asses,  forming  the 
highest  points  of  the  trap  range  in  townships  49  and  50,  range  42,  on  the 
head-waters  of  Iron  river.  It  is  of  a  brick-red  color,  and  contains  small 
crystals  of  white  feldspar,,  not  senerally  exceeding  an  eighth  of  an  inch  in 
length.    Almost  invariably,  fine  rounded  particles  of  vitreous  quartz  are 


"  ^^■-Mteu^;,.^.^...,^HHp.^)m^ 


Ifoc.  No.  69. 


Tl 


of  epidotc, 

Dck  that  it 
the  Atlas 
e  44,)  now 
n  all  of  the 
like  sheets, 
ine  grained 
)f  ft'ldspar, 
lief.  This 
,  it  has  not 

and  quart- 
/^ebeen  the 
e  Cushman 
wnship  60, 
observed  at 

;ially  in  the 
ral  miles  in 
epidotti  re- 
'  containing 
raduates  on 

■  the  green- 
p  portion  of 
lating  rock, 
ain  masses, 
rith  quartz, 
rs  in  seams, 
structure, 
Like  the 
being  filled 
e  trap  and 
being  filled 
d  calc-spar. 
n  mountain 
composed 
The  greater 
brick-red 
s  of  quartz, 
ired  or  con- 
its  particles 
le  compact 
o  quartzose 

brming  the 
!42,  on  the 
itains  small 
fan  inch  in 
quartz  are 


found  distributed  with  the  feldspar  through  the  jarpery  l)a8e.  It  forms  an 
eruptive  mass,  and  often  includes  fragments  of  the  pre-existing  igneous 
and  sedimentary  rocks.  This  porphyry  has  generally  a  trappean  structure, 
breaking  by  natural  joints  into  blocks  more  or  less  prismatic. 

A  singular  nondescript  rock  occurs  in  a  low  ledge  which  crops  oul  oh 
section  33,  township  49,  range  43.  It  has  a  feldspalhic  base  ot  a  light 
reddish  color,  through  which  irregular  crystals  of  red  feldspar  and  small 
rounded  particles  of  quartz  are  discernible,  intermixed  with  a  greenish 
mineral,  which  appears  to  be  epidote.  It  differs  entirely  in  external  char- 
acters from  any  rock  found  elsewhere  in  the  district. 

Range  and  extent — associated  metah. — The  trappean  range  betweeii 
Portage  lake  and  the  Ontonagon  river  divides  the  country  into  two  parts — 
the  portion  lying  on  the  north  being  drained  by  streams  which  flow  at 
nearly  right  angles  to  the  formp.tion,  while  in  that  portion  lying  south  the 
streams  flow  nearly  parallel  with  it.  The  trap  range  crosses  Portage  lake 
in  township  55,  ranges  33  and  34 — its  width  being  about  three  miles — and 
continues  in  a  southwest  course  nearly  parallel  with  the  lake.  In  town- 
ship 52,  range  36,  :t  contracts  to  less  than  a  mile  in  width.  Between  this 
point  and  Portage  lake,  trap  is  seen  in  the  beds  of  the  water-courses,  and 
along  the  waU,r-sh«,d  line.  Low  rounded  hills  occur,  with  few  exposures 
of  the  rock.  'Within  this  distance  there  is  no  valuable  mining-ground, 
and  oiily  one  attempt  at  exploration  has  been  made.  The  Old  Settlere' 
Compaay  explored  a  vein,  or  seam,  on  section  6,  township  62,  range  35, 
the  course  of  which  is  north  65°  east,  parallel  with  the  course  of  the 
trap.  This  seam  in  no  place  exceeds  four  inches  in  width,  and  is  filled 
with  quartz  and  epidote,  with  particles  of  native  copper  disseminated. 
The  drift  was  extended  for  30  feet.  On  sccion  36,  township  63,  range 
36,  a  shaft  was  sunk  upon  a  seam  of  similar  character;  but  the  nature  of 
the  rock  gave  little  assurance  of  a  valuable  vein. 

West  of  township  52,  range  33,  the  trap  again  expands,  occasionally 
emerging  in  bold  precipitous  cliffs.  Between  this  point  and  the  Ontonagon 
river  the  rock  is  in  many  places  metalliferous,  and  affords  good  mining- 
ground.  It  does  not  range  in  continuous  chains,  but  appears  in  rounded 
groups  or  isolated  knobs. 

At  the  Algonquin  mine  (section  36,  township  52,  range  35)  the  trap  is 

rather  compact,  and  much  mixed  with  epidote.     The  ridge  here  bears 

northeast,  and  the  escarpment  is  to  the  nortluv^'t — forming  an  exception 

to  the  general  rule  found  to  prevail  in  this  io:>ion.     At  the  Douglass 

Hoii«hton  mire,  four  miles  southwest,  the  trap  appears  in  numerous  knobs 

and  short  broken  ridges,  and  affords  good  mining-ground.    Masses  of  vein- 

j  stone,  consisting  of  quartz  colored  rose-red  by  the  sub-oxide  of  copper, 

are  found  in  the  streams,  indicating  the  proximity  of  veins.     On  section 

16,  township  51,  range  '  ■  ^  this  company  have  ernlored  an  east-ahd-west 

I  vein  which  promises  to  yield  a  profitabl-    return.    The  rock  '"  a  dark- 

j colored,  compact  trapf,  occasionally  amygualoidal,  traversed  bv  •  mierous 

[joints,  the  intervening  spaces  of  variable  width,  being  occupieu  uy  quartz 

arid  calc  spar.     A  detailed  description  of  the  works  will  be  found  undir 

the  head  of  Mines. 

On  the  neighboring  section,  21,  the  New  York  and  Michigan  Company 
i  have  made  merely  surface  explorations.  There  are  here  two  well-defined 
jand  abrupt  ranges  of  trap  crossing  the  line  between  sections  16  and  21, 
I  in  which  several  veins  of  metallic  copper  and  blue  carbonate  of  copper 


!4)dc^r#9» 


<f  " 


iiii'-H 


\' 


i^  m 


iwste  discovered  1)7  Messrs.  Grout  aad  Dopglass,  trho  exploied  the  loc»- 
^n.  We  10 and  the  same  appearances  here  as  at  nQmerjyus  othe/  points  in 
^e  trap  range  in  thii  vicinity,  to  w»t:  epidote  occurring  massive  and  in- 
termixed with  the  trap  rock,  and  containing  a  "^  iiall  amount  of  copper, 
l^othing,  however,  was  found  worthy  of  particular  notice.  The  ridges  of 
trap  are  elevated  about  a  hundred  feet  ihovo  Ue  general  level  of  the 
country,  vhiie  the  intervening  ground 


About  10  rods  southwest  of  the  cab; 


y  ami.  s'v;.i.>Tipy. 
!H  is  a  ti&p  kiioh  which  rise* 


to  the  heigh'  of  660  feet — the  most  elev  ted  jx.  nt  in  the  av  «^diate  Yirin«- 
ity.  On  th-'.  line  between  39  ar^  30  th  grcninv'  vo  '»unv>  Jn  >  d33  fjet. 
The  trap  heve  is  amyf daloidal,  vith  few  mdicatioii*  of  ccp|xr. 

In  the  adjv:)iDing  towiuuiip  wejt  (towi*.  hip  51,  range  38)  the  trap  rises 
in  broken  ridyes  to  the  b'  iqht  of  J  CO  f^et  above  the  surrounding  cduntry, 
presenting  murat  faces  to  ire  south.  It  cojijsists  for  the  most  pjirt  of  hard, 
-crysialline  greenstone,  and  is  traversed  by  ftum«Tnus  zonv  rnpcaneous 
lissures,  which  are  fiHed  wi^h  .juart:'  and  calc^spac,  ayd  contain  copper, 
4i3seriJiiated,  and  in  masses  wftghi'ig  15  an.'.  ^'^  pounds.  Wo  saw  in 
stfie  no.*hern  portion  of  the  belt  p  o  w  !!-defti2<»d  vtot-y  enuU  altogether,  the 
charficver  of  the  rock  is  unravcrable  for  miui^,^.^ 

Tlvi)  epidctg  and  quartz  are  occasionally  observed  in  beds,  associated 
.ml'-,  iiative  ropper,  having  a  course  and  dip  corresponding  with  the  ad - 
'Jiif*  nt  >i,mtified  rocks. 

'i'he  Aid  i'enturers'  Mining  Company  and  the  Ridge  Mining  Company  are 
jooated  b\  this  townships— the  former  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
25;  the  latter  oij  the  south v,reat  quarter  of  the  same  section. 

In  the  southwest  quarter  of  sectioii  2!5  a  vein  was  observed  in  a  ridge 
which  extends  across  that  qtiarter  section,  bearing  north  66°  east,  and 
dipping  to  the  northwest  45°.  The  veinstone  was  prehnite  and  calc  spar, 
and  contained  traces  of  native  coppej.  The  foreign  matter  would  not  ex. 
eeed  one  foot  in  width »  but  the  brecciaied  rock  occupied  three  feet. 

The  Aztec  Company  are  also  working  a  small  force  in  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  25,  in  this  township.  In  the  southeastern  portion  of 
this  township  the  rock  appears  more  favorable  for  metals,  but  the  explora* 
tions  have  not  been  carried  sufficiently  far  to  develop  the  true  character 
of  the  veins* 

The  trap  range  in  the  adjoining  township  southwest  is  highly  metal- 
liferous— as  much  so  as  any  in  this  portion  of  the  district. 

Township  50,  rmiige  39. — As  this  is  an  interesting  township  in  regard 
(to  its  topographical  features*,  and  one  in  which  perhaps  mor®  mining  and 
exploring  have  been  done  than  in  any  other,  we  will  '^iv©  a  somewhat 
general  description  of  its  geology  and  topography  betore  entering  into 
a  particular  description  of  the  several  explorations  and  attempts  at  mining 
Mrliich  have  been  nmde.  The  Ontonagon  river  runs  diagdiially  across  the 
Uiwnship  in  a  winding  course,  separating  it  into  two  unequal  portions*. 
The  three  main  branches  of  the  stream  died  respectively  the  East,  West, 
and  Middle  forks,  unite  in  sections  "T  jfid  28,  and  form  a  bron  ?  river 
which,  however,  is  mucii  broken  by  "^  «?,  and  can  only  be  ascended  '  ^ 
boats  forced  up  against  the  current  •  v  •  .dng  poles.  The  banks  of  liici 
WftiT  i  -8  generally  of  red  clay,  .  .r^-     les  rising  one  hundred  feet  above 

(!>  ravines,  commonly  ca'i'od  "hog. 
rnany  times  in  the  course  of  a  ttiile. 
:'.  bborious  and  vexatious.    Tha  trap  j 


in 


'  im,  ana  worn  mto  pre  >; 
hacks,  '  which  succeed  each  o>..i.  • 
To  travel  over  them  is  a  task  at  ot 


I 


Doe.  No.  BO. 


m 


(THinge  f>riters  the  township  at  the  northeast  comer,  and  pursues  nearly  a 
jDorthea^  and  southwest  direction  diagonalljr  through  it.  On  the  east  find 
vest  line  of  section  l2,  there  are  two  distinct  ridges:  the  northernmoet 
jind  highest  is  736  ieet  above  the  lake,  at  the  point  of  intersection. 
These  ridges  continue  tolerably  distinct  and  parallel  in  direction  nearly 
to  the  Ontonagon^  when  they  gradually  bredc  off;  and  where  the 
river  outs  through  the  range  no  rock  is  seen  in  place,  but  high  clay  banks 
hem  in  the  channel.  The  terminating  knobs  of  these  ridges  are  con- 
lepictioua  objects  from  a  distance,  and  are  known  as  the  ''Three  Brothers.'* 
The  North  and  Middle  Brothers  are  the  proper  terminations  of  the  two 

Earallel  ridges ;  but  the  South  Brother  is  a  spur  of  the  southern  ridge.    The 
eightof  the  Middle  Brotlier  above  the  lake  is  758  feet;  the  other  knobs 
iCkod  ridges  in  the  township  are  from  650  to  670  feet. 

From  the  summit  of  the  northern  ridge  the  ground  verges  very 
iffradually  to  the  lake,  there  being  no  other  breaks  than  ravines  worn 
By  running  water.  South  of  the  trap  range  there  is  a  beautiful  level 
:p[ateau  of  land,  finely  timbered  with  maple  ai^d  hemlock;  then  succeeds 
•a  broken  and  uneven  country,  intersected  by  numerous  gullies.  In 
.the  buds  of  the  streams  sandstone  may  be  seen  in  place  occasionally, 
.though  they  are  naostly  excavuteid  in  red  clay.  The  current  is  generally 
;6luggish.  The  west  branch  of  the  Ontonago^n  flows  along  the  line  of 
junction  between  the  sandstone  on  the  south  and  the  trap  on  the  north; 
;and  it  was  oo  the  left  bank  of  this  stream,  near  the  water's  edge,  in  sec- 
lion  31,  of  this  township,  that  the  faipaous  "  copper  rock,"  now  at  Wash- 
ington, was  found.  To  facilitate  its  removal,  a  road  was  constructed 
;to  the  main  bnanch  of  the  river  on  section  20,  which  is  known  as  the 
"  Copper-rock  mad." 

The  trap  is  flanked  on  the  north  by  a  belt  of  conglomerate  which  bears 
urest- southwest,  and  occupies  a  width  of  one-fourth  of  a  mile.  Numerous 
alternating  bands  of  igneous  and  aqueous  rocks  are  observed  in  this 
township,  or  rather  in  the  northern  portion  of  it. 

The  trap  ranges  differ  somewhat  iu  lithological  character.  The  north- 
ern range,  as  exposed  on  section  10,  is  somewhat  porphyritic.  Between 
thisiand  tiiie  second  range  there  is  a  belt  of  sandstone  100  feet  in  thick- 
ness, which  is  well  exposed  on  section  16. 

The  middle  range  is  capped  with  greenstone,  while  its  base  consists  of 
:&  graaiilar  trap,  with  occasional  araygdules  dispersed  through  it,  coiq- 
tposed  of  hornblende,  feldspar,  and  chlorite — forming  the  most  metal- 
liferous beii  in  the  region.  At  the  base  of  this  belt  a  thin  band  of  con- 
glomerate is  observed  about  10  feet  in  thickness,  dipping  north  52°.  Be- 
tween the  middle  and  southern  ranges  there  is  probably  another  band  of 
conglomerate  concealed  by  the  soil.  The  souUiern  range  is  composed  of 
a  dark  brown  trap,  more  compact  than  the  former,  hut  likewise  metal- 
lic roue. 

'i  he  ''  (South  Brother"  is  somewhat  isolated,  and  may  be  regarded  the 
most  receii  in  geological  age,  since  the  sandstone  dips  from  it  on  the 
iSDUth,  and  iiie  bedded  •^••ap  aud  conglomerate  dip  from  it  on  the  north. 
•  I'ht  principal  workjr.s  in  this  township,  east  of  the  river,  have  been 
prosecuted  on  sections  15,  16,21,  and  22.  The  Minnesota  Company, 
on  section  16,  have  a  valuable  mine,  a  detailed  description  ot  which  will 
be  given  under  the  appropriate  head.    , , 


Dde.  No.  M 


l*:». 


pi?  i 


The  Ontonagon  Mining  Company  sank  a  shaft  on  section  22  to  the 
depth  of  40  feet,  which  afforded  indications  of  Uttle  value.  The  rock 
brought  to  light  consisted  of  a  mingled  mass  of  epidote  and  trap, 
traversed  by  seams  of  calc  spar  and  quartz,  with  traces  of  native  copper. 
Associated  with  it  were  particles  of  oxide  of  iron,  having  a  metallic 
lustre,  which  were  mistaken  for  gray  sulphuret  of  copper. 

Another  shaft  was  commenced  near  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
11,  but  soon  abandoned.  ' 

'  The  f^rincipal  shaft  sunk  by  the  company  was  on  section  16,  near  its 
•eastern  boundary,  and  was  carried  to  the  depth  of  60  feet,  through  trap 
which  afforded  no  evidence  of  a  vein. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  river,  explorations  were  made  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  19,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Randolph.  The  hill 
was  perforated  to  the  distance  of  30  feet  along  the  course  cf  a  supposed 
vein,  when  he  found  it  cut  off,  as  the  miners  term  3d  it,  by  a  wall  of 
hard,  compact  trap.  Near  the  seam,  and  against  it,  the  rock  is  amyg- 
daloidal,  the  cavities  of  which  are  filled  with  calc  .spar,  epidote  and 
quartz.  In  the  space  of  six  or  eight  feet  from  the  seam,  the  rock  grad- 
uates into  a  hard,  compact  trap,  and  every  trace  of  a  vein  is  obliterated. 
The  quantity  of  copper  found  at  this  locality  was  exceedingly  small, 
though  some  specimens  yielded  as  high  as  15  or  20  per  cent.,  and  was 
finely  interspersed  through  the  rock.  , 

The  Forest  Mining  Company  are  exploring  some  veins  west  of  the 
river,  with  very  flattering  prospects,  a  description  ot  which  will  be  found 
under  the  head  of  Mines. 

The  mining  attempts  on  section  31 ,  by  the  Ontonagon  Company,  will 
be  alluded  to  in  connexion  with  their  operations  on  the  adjoining  sec- 
tion in  range  40. 

'  In  addition  to  these  explorations,  numerous  shafts  have  been  sunk 
and  adits  driven  into  ihe  clay  banks  which  border  the  river,  by  sanguine 
adventurers  in  search  of  mineral  wealth.  Near  the  spot  where  the  cop- 
per rock  was  found,  numerous  attempts  of  this  kind  were  made.  The 
true  sources  from  which  the  loose  masses  of  copper  have  been  derived 
are  now  fully  understood,  and  fruidess  explorations  of  this  kind  have 
long  since  been  abandoned. 

Towtiship  50,  range  40. — The  trappean  rocks  west  of  the  Ontonagon 
pursue  a  course  which  varies  but  a  few  degrees  south  of  west.  They  here 
expand  to  a  width  of  little  more  than  four  miles,  and  crop  out  north  of  the 
west  branch  in  bold,  overhanging  cliffs.  About  one- third  of  the  northern 
portion  of  this  township  is  occupied  by  the  detrital  rocks;  while  the  mid- 
dle, occupied  by  the  igneous  rocks,  is  low,  and  affords  no  valuable 
mining  ground.  In  the  southern  portion,  numerctus  explorations  have 
been  made  by  the  United  States  and  Ontonagon  Companies.  Those  of 
the  latter  have  been  principally  confined  to  section  36.  Here  a  vein-like 
mass  of  epidote  can  be  traced  from  the  bottom  to  the  top  of  a  hill,  and  for 
a  considerable  distance  along  the.  course  of  the  formation,  which  bears 
north  76°  east.  This  mass  is  nearly  vertical,  and  is  one  of  the  largest  and 
best  defined  which  we  have  seen.  It  has  no  perceptible  walls,  and  on 
either  side  it  may  be  seen  graduating  into  the  trap.  A  shaft  has  been 
sunk  about  halfway  down  the  hill,  and  a  drift  exiended  to  intersect  it  be= 
low.  Other  Openings  have  been  made  at  various  ix.iuts.  Although  ome 
masses  of  native  copper  weighing  fifty  pounds  'vere  extracted,  yet  iha 


|lM.^o.  6d. 


79 


m  22  to  the 
.  The  rock 
te  and  trap, 
itive  copper, 
g  a  metallio 

iv  of  section 

16,  near  its 
through  trap 

he  northea^ 
1.    The  hill 
f  a  supposed 
)y  a  wall  of 
sk  is  amygf« 
epi'dote  and 
rock  grad- 
obliterated. 
ingly  small, 
It.,  and  was 
>;!  n'.i^a^f^f' 
west  of  the 
ill  be  found 

upany,  will 
oining  sec* 

been  sunk 
>y  sanguina 
e  the  cop- 
ade.  The 
!en  derived 
kind  have 

Ontonagon 
They  here 
lorth  of  the 
e  northern 
e  the  mid-  ' 
valuable 
tions  have 

Those  of 
a  vein-like 
11,  and  for 
lich  bears 
argest  and 
Is,  and  on 

has  been 
'sect  it  be= 
mjh  ome 
d,  yet  the 


results,  on  the  whole,  could  not  be  deemed  satisfactory,  for  the  copper 
is  diffused  too  sparingly  to  render  the  workings  profitable.  This  com« 
pany  also  commenced  explorations  on  section  31  in  the  adjoining  town- 
ship  east.  A  vein-like  mass  of  similar  character,  bearing  nearly  east 
ana  west,  and  dipping  northwardly,  was  observed  near  the  base  of  a  cliff, 
into  which  a  level  was  driven,  without  affording  much  encouragement  to 
continue  the  work. 

The  United  States  Mining  Company  were  located  on  sections  34  and  35. 
A  superficial  examination  was  made  at  the  base  of  a  trap  cliff  perhaps 
one  hundred  feet  in  height,  where  the  rock  consisted  of  trap  mmgled  with 
epidote  and  quartz,  presenting  a  singular  brecciated  appearance.  No  cop- 
per was  found.  Beds  of  epidote  may  be  seen  in  this  ridge,  having  an  ap- 
proximate bearing  east  and  west,  in  which  traces  of  coDner  exist,  but  na> 
where  has  it  been  observed  in  sufficient  abundance  to  jflltify  mining  ope- 
rations. 

Gn  section  35,  is  a  high  cliff  made  up  of  irregular  alternating  bands  of 
amygdaloidal  trap  and  amygdaloidal  epidote.  Surface  explorations  have 
only  been  made  here;  in  fact,  there  is  nothing  to  warrant  extended  mining. 

Towifskip  4Q,ranffe  40. — The  trappean  rocks  occur  only  in  the  extreme 
northern  portion  of  this  township.  They  rise  in  isolated  knobs  and  bro- 
ken ridges,  north  of  the  west  branch  of  the  Ontonagon,  to  the  height  of 
three  hundred  and  even  four  hundred  feet.  Mining  operations  are  for 
the  most  part  restricted  to  the  upper  portions  of  the  bluffs,  so  that,  if  sys- 
tematically pursued,  drainage  can  be  effected  wiih  ease  by  means  of  adits. 

The  Ohio  Trap  Rock  Company  are  located  on  section  6,  but  most  of 
their  explorations  have  been  made  on  section  12  in  the  adjoining  town- 
ship west. 

Township  49,  range  41 — The  geological  features  r  '  this  township  do 
not  differ  essentially  from  that  la^i  described.  Bold  clitfs  border  the  river 
on  the  north,  through  which  are  distributed  vein-like  i?  ?  of  epi- 
dote containing  copper.  The  cliffs  extend  though  the  town  .^,.  not  con- 
tinuously, but  in  broken  ridges,  and  form  the  principal  mining  ground. 
The  trap  continues  northward  about  five  miles,  occupying  about  one  half  of 
township  50,  but  rarely  emerges  to  the  surface,  and  affords  fetv  facilities 
ibr  mining. 

Sections  17, 18,  and  19,  in  the  western  limits  of  the  townsh'p,  were  re- 
spectively occupied  by  the  Hope,  Ural,  and  Astor  Companies.  A  bluff, 
occasionily  broken  through  by  ravines,  rises  to  the  height  of  three  hun- 
dred or  four  hundred  feet  above  the  west  branch  of  the  Ontonagon  river, 
in  which  masses  of  epidote  and  quartz,  containing  considerable  copper,  are 
arrangfid  somewhat  in  the  form  of  veins.  In  places  r  >.  /ere  observed 
to  expand  to  the  width  of  five  or  six  feet,  and  afteruaids  contract  to  a 
mere  seatn,  and  sometimes  run  out  altogether,  or  reappear  at  a  higher 
level  in  the  cliff.  There  were  no  Well-defined  walls  observed,  and  fre- 
quently the  epidote  was  seen  to  pass  imperceptibly  into  compact  trap. 

These  tracts  are  now  abandoned ;  but  if  these  deposites  are  found  pro- 
ductive after  more  extended  exploitations,  raining  operations  will  undoubt- 
f>d.I '  be  resumed  at  this  point. 

he  Ohio  Trap  Rock  Company  have  performed  much  work  in  a  bluff 
!i£  a  similar  character  on  section  12,  and  at  one 'time  their  prospects  were 
regarded  as  highly  flattering. 


:Si..'i;;f-i!; 


"!  ■iit^iU;..'*it:  -Tt'iiii 


i» 


.U»C.  »Q,  flf . 


lix:' 


r   Dr.  Gibbs  visited  tliis  trac(  in  1848,  an4  from  his  ootes  we  cxtn^t  tlji^ 
Ibllowing  inforniatioii: 

<<The  general  character  of  the  rock  is  a  compact  trap,  containing  mucl^ 
epidote  mineral,  with  quartz  and  calcareous  spar.  The  epidote  generally 
assumes  the  form  of  veins,  iiitersecting  the  trap  in  different  directions, 
Jbut  p^rliaps  chiedy  north  and  south  or  east  and  west.  The  copper  ia 
found  prjrc'nily  in  those  veins  whici  have  an  e^sterly  and  westerly 
dirociit"  .  jr;  ci  of  these,  which  dips  about  35°  to  the  north,  two  shara 
,h«v  becii  :..  k,  one  of  which  was  60  and  thr-  other  40  feet  in  depth  at 
flhu  tim^  ul  our  visit,  and  largo  quantities  of  epidote  mineral ,  with  quartz 
imd  spar,  had  been  raised.  The  epidoto  frequently  is  rich  in  metalUa 
co(^r,  though  as  yet  it  has  not  been  found  in  large  masses.  The  coppe^ 
is  also  disscmizuted,  though  sparingly,  through  tlie  qqartz,  and  atlordfl 
specimens  resemoling  those  from  the  CliU  niine.  The  epidote  is  oilen 
beautifully  radiatpi'  •  .,  .  nK-n  rrired  with  the  white  quartz  and  brigl^ 
metallic  copper,  aifords  singular  and  beautiful  specimens.  At  the  bottom 
of  the  hill,  a  drift  is  ''n  progress  to  meet  the  two  shafts.  The  hill  is 
about  130  feet  in  height,  and  the  distance  to  be  driven  is  about  300  feet, 
following  the  apparent  course  of  the  vein-  Oilier  ope,uings  have  been 
made  on  the  location  and  in  this  hill.  They  all  present  the  same  general 
character — namely  a  vein-like  seam  of  epidote,  containing  seams  of 
quartz  and  calcareous  spar,  with  particles  of  metallic  copper.  Ther  frag- 
ments of  epidote  are  often  covered  with  a  coatin;^  of  carbonate  of  c.  pper, 
evidently  derived  by  decomposition  from  the  metullic  copper.  Sometime 
tlie  decomposed  epidote  and  earthy  matter  form  seams  in  the  rock,  which 
are  regarded  by  the  miners  as  a  rich  ore.  On  the  whoie,  the  quantity  qf 
copper  obtained  at  thj  locality  is  sufficient  to  iustify  further  f^xplorarion 
in  proving  the  real  nature  of  these  deposites,  ti-  igh  the  orfiivieu  of  the 
metal  in  pseudo-veins  will  ren  1er  the  uUimate  success  of  lUe  opt  ion  a 
matter  of  some  uncertainty.  1'he  appearance  of  the  vein  seemea,  iiow- 
ever,  more  promising  as  they  descended  upon  it. 

The  adit-kvel  has  since  been  constructed,  but  the  vein- like  ma:  d 
inot  prove  as  rich,  where  intersected,  as  was  anticipated. 

The  Boston  aud  Lake  Superior  Company  have  made  explorations  on 
section  11,  a^cut  one-fourth  of  a  mile  further  west.  The  gejneral  char- 
acter of  tlie  deposites  of  copper  is  similar  to  that  of  the  Ohio  Trap  Kock 
Con  ,»any.  Two  vei'  like  ma;>ses  of  epidote,  mixed  with  quartz  and 
calc-s^-ur,  meet  at  ri-  it  angles — the  one  running  nearly  north  aud 
south,  the  other  east  and  west.  Two  inclined  shafts  were  sunk  to  the 
respective  depths  of  thirty  and  sixtv  feet.  The  bed  pitched  to  the  north 
about  'h^,  and  was  t'lought  to  Income  richer  in  its  downward  cottrae. 
This  mine  is  temporarily,  if  not  permanently,  alandoned."  r.  ik^  :<i:^if<-. 

This  portion  of  the  trr,.  range  appears  to  ^^r  richer  than  any  other  in 
the  district  west  <  *"  thi  Ontonagon.  It  is  characterized  throughout  by 
these  ^'epidote  v<  ^,"  ;<s  they  are  provincialty  termed,  which  in  many 
places  offer  flatli  ,  ii  iucements  to  miners;  but  it  must  be  confessed 
that  th(i  explorations  th.  s  far  have  not  demonstrated  that  theycao^be 
profitably  wrought.        .  ■ul'ifli., 

Toiniskip  49,  range  42. — The  trap  adjoins  Agogebic  lake  on  the  north, 
and  expands  to  the  width  of  eight  miles.  The  range  of  bluffs  before 
described  is  continued  through  the  southern  portion  of  this  township, 
aud  presents  the  same  geological  features.    In  the  northern  portion  are 


E^.  No.  6flf 


W 


re  extract  ih^ 

:«ining  muc]|i 
lote  gsnerally 
Qt  directions, 
rbo  copper  ia 
and  Avosterly 
h,  two  shafbi 
3t  in  depth  at 
,  with  quarts 
h  in  metalUo 

The  coppe^ 
;,  and  atlords 
idote  is  often 
tz  and  l;>ng)H 
it  the  bottom 

The  hill  is 
)oui  300  feet, 
gs  have  been 
same  general 
iiig  seams  of 
r.  Ther  frag- 
ile of  c  pper, 

Sometimes 
!  rock,  which 
le  quantity  qf 
ir  oxplorario^i 
ineu'  of  the 
e  op»  ion  a 
semea^  liow- 

ike  mab.    iid 

plorations  on 

general  char- 

o  Trap  Rock 

quartz  and 

north   and 

sunk  to  the 

to  the  north 

ward  course. 

any  other  in 
roughout  by 
ich  in  many 
be  confessed 
tiiey  can  be 

m  the  north, 
blutfs  before 
is  township, 
a  portion  are 


juartzose  porj)hyry,  in  which  no  traces  of  coppef 
■     '  '       "  direction  for 


niimerous  high  knohs 

have  been  detected.    'I  aese  extend  in  an  east-nonfieast 

about  six  miles,  and  vary  in  width  from  one  to  two  miles.     On  section 

24,  known  a^  Boyd's  location,  explorations  to  a  limited  extent  have  beeot* 

made.  •*  :t ''■{','__,'' -^s/'iV  >■:,>■  ■  .'"ivri  _    I'/.^u   v'*.  i.t^'i  rft'-^- 

Near  the  bed  6f  the  it^eam,  by  the  cabin,  occurs  a  mags  of  epidole, 
passing  into  trap,  and  containing  specks  of  metallic  copper.  A  small 
(Quantity  of  rock  has  been  thrown  out  here,  but  the  percentage  of  copper 
is  very  light  indeed.  At  the  southeast  corner  of  the  location,  near  the 
summit  of  a  trap  cliff  200  feet  m  height,  occurs  another  mass  of  epidot» 
Xock,  which  has  been  explored  in  search  of  copper.  This  mass  is  ab6ut 
six  ieet  in  breadth  by  ten  in  length,  and  presents  supatficially  some  of 
the  characters  of  a  vem,  but  passes  gradually  into  the  trap  both  above 
and  below,  so  as  to  be  no  longer  distinguishable  at  the  distance  of  a  few 
inches.  A  few  particles  of  copper  are  found  in  the  epidotej  but  appear- 
i.aces,  upon  the  whole,  are  unpromising. 

About  one-fourth  of  a  mile  east  of  the  cabin  is  the  locality  known  as 
the  "Red  oxide  vein."  The  trap  is  very  hard  and  compact,  and  contains 
epidote,  which  iii  so  letimes  stained  by  carbonate  of  copper.  The  seams 
of  the  Urap  are  fille.  with  thin  plates  of  a  red  crumbly  substance — proba- 
bly decomposed  laumonite.  The  epidote  has,  as  usual,  some  resemblance 
to  a  vein.  Considerable  masses  of  or;  have  been  obtained  from  this 
place,  being  mostly  native  copper  incrnsted  with  the  red  oxide,  which  is 
probably  an  after-product  from  the  oxidation  of  native  copper.  Near  this 
place  is  another  opening  of  the  same  kind;  but  no  copper  nor  signs  of  a 
vein  Could  be  discovered.  On  the  whole,  there  is  no  reason  to  suppose 
that  mining  operations  at  this  point  will  be  attended  with  success.  'v/ 

The  trap  occupies  only  portions  of  the  first  tier  of  sections  in  the  ad*' 
joining  township  (48)  south.  On  section  6,  the  Charter  Oak  Company 
erected  buildings  and  made  surface  explorations.  The  cop{)er  bearing 
rock  is  similar  to  that  which  is  characteristic  of  the  whole  of  this  range, 
and  to  describe  it  more  in  detail  would  be  superfluous.  The  location  is 
now  abandoned.  •  •   ■  ♦•?•''    •' 

From  this  range  west  to  the  Montreal  river,  (we  speak  not  now  of  the 
Porcupine  mountains,)  the  country  is  low  and  swampy,  affording  {e\ir 
facilities  for  mining  operations.  The  rocks  rarely  emerge  to  the  surface, 
and,  when  observed,  are  in  isolated  knobs,  instead  of  continuous  ranges. 

The  bed  of  the  Presqu'  Isle  was  examined  by  us  with  great  care,  aS' 
well  as  the  country  lying  west  of  the  river,  before  thu  organization  of  the 
survey.  The  conglomerate  is  seen  flanking  the  iTap  oh  the  north,  as 
well  as  intercalated  with  it  in  lenticular  bands.  The  junction  between 
the  two  classes  of  rocks  occurs  in  sect'on  26. 

Tovmship  49,  range  45. — The  trap  resembles  that  of  Keweenaw  Point, 
and,  near  the  junction  of  the  diflerent  mineral  planes,  is  highly  amygda- 
loidah  The  z  ohtes,  so  rare  in  the  Ontonagon  region,  are  here  very 
abundant. 

A  bed  of  quartz  slightly  tinged  with  the  sub-oxide  of  copper  is  seen  in 
the  trap  on  section  26,  near  its  northern  limits.  Numerous  and  appa- 
rently contemporaneous  fissures  traverse  the  rnass.  which  are  fiilm  with 
prehnite,  laumonite,  and  calc-spar,  through  which  native  copper  is 
diffused  in  small  specks.  Fissures  of  greater  power,  and  apparently  of  a 
later  age,  cut  the  mass  in  a  north  and  south  direction,  but  they  are  rarely 


7a 


Doc.  No.  6f>. 


.  'U  |i 


i«    '  I 


i„, 


t 


metalliferous.  Befwenn  Prosqn'Isle  and  Fi'v!  nvors,  occasionally,  de- 
tached ktiobs  of  trap  arc  observed,  which  affova  no  induceiucnls  to  tniiiing. 

^rhe  Cypress  River  Mining  Company  erected  cabins  on  section  20,  which 
were  subsequently  abandoned. 

The  bed  of  Black  river,  above  ^he  point  where  the  conglomerate  and 
trap  meet,  exhibits  few  exposures  of  rock.  On  section  5,  township  48, 
range  46,  the  Chippewa  Mining  Company  explored  a  vein  in  the  bed  of 
the  stream  to  some  extent,  but  develo|)ed  nothing  valuable,  there  being  an 
ill  defined  vein  through  which  native  copper  is  sparsely  disseminated. 
The  trap  here  rises  in  hills  two  or  three  hundred  feet  in  height,  occasion- 
ally exiiihiting  mural  escarpments.  Beyond  these  hills  southward  the 
country  sinks  down  into  a  nearly  level  plain,  covered  with  deep  depositea 
of  drift.  * 

Between  the  Black  and  Montreal  rivers  a  low  range  of  trappean  hills 
runs  parallel  with  the  coast,  but  in  no  instance  intersects  it.  To  the 
south  the  country  is  low  and  swampy,  but  occasionally  a  trap  knob  rises 
up  to  diversify  the  monotony  of  the  scene. 

The  Montreal,  a  rapid,  brawling  stream,  affords  a  good  section  of  the 
rocks.  For  four  miles  above  its  mouth,  it  dashes  throtuth  a  deep  gorge 
which  it  has  excavated  in  the  rocks,  laying  bare  the  iJftdded  trap,  con- 
glomerate, and  sandstone.  The  trap  is  both  compact  and  amygdaloidal. 
The  belt  in  proximity  to  the  conglomerate  is  decidedly  vesicular  and  con- 
tains an  abundance  of  the  zeolitic  nnnerals,  in  which  occasional  traces  of 
copper  are  observed.  There  are  numerous  irregular  veins  of  a  hard, 
quartzose  material,  occasionally  stained  with  copper,  bearing  north  55° 
west,  with  ailip  of  45°  or  50°  northwardly.  They  are  very  limited,  and 
we  do  not  consider  them  as  affording  any  possible  indication  of  valuabls 
lodes. 

The  Montreal  River  Mining  Cempany  occupied  sections  23,  24,  25,  and 
26,  township  48,  range  49.  The  exploitations  of  the  company  were  very 
limited,  and'the  locations  are  now  abandoned.        ,,.•(  ,       .,,    !  ii  ju',.v, 

k.i  tv'».j(i-'-    i   .••■>.         .li...  .'i'.<,,.U  Jl    i>>i -:   '-.al    (ij     bh", 

PORCUPINE   MOUNTAINS.  f..  *..,^ -.wa 

c':  ''■■>  ■••■',  *■'■■':  Vi  ■•.:•:  •  i,.,i  }i..4t'4' 

These  mountains,  as  will  be  seen  by  an  inspection  of  the  map,  are  an 
off-shoot  at  nearly  right  angles  from  the  main  range,  and  form  the  cul- 
minating points  in  the  district,  if  we  except  a  few  points  near  Agogebic 
lake.  They  assume  a  crescent  form — a  peculiarity  in  the  trappean  rocks, 
which  has  been  noted  by  Dr.  Percival  in  his  description  of  the  geology 
of  the  State  of  Connecticut.  The  great  mass  consists  of  quartzose  por- 
phyry and  jasper,  though  in  other  portions  the  amygdaloid  is  not  want- 
ing. Copper  has  been  observed  at  numerous  points,  but  no  valuable 
lodes  have  been,  nor  probably  will  be,  developed.  To  show  the  char- 
acter of  the  rocks,  and  the  association  of  the  copper,  we  will  advert  to 
the  principal  points  where  explorations  have  been  made.  ^ 

Township  61,  rhnge  42,  section  27. — The  Union  River  Company  have 
here  made  quite  extensive  explorations — more  so  than  any  other  company 
in  the  region.  The  seat  of  their  mining  operations  is  about  two  miles 
from  the  mouth  of  Union  river,  and  is  elevated  309  feet  above  the  lake. 
A  bed  of  trap.  500  or  600  feet  in  thickness,  is  included  betv/een  parallsl 

f)lanes  of  sandstone,  and  dips  north'  est  at  an  angle  of  25°.    Along  the 
ine  of  junction  between  the  sandstone  above  and  the  trap  below,  and 
occupying  a  thickness  of  about  6  feet,  is  a  bed  of  amygdaloidal  chlorite, 


Doe.  No.  69.^ 


TIT 


ionally,  do- 
stoinininff. 
n  26,  which 

imerate  and 
jwnship  4S, 
n  the  bed  of 
ere  being  an 
isseminated. 
\t,  occaaion- 
uthward  the 
jep  deposites 

rappean  hills 
lit.  To  the 
ip  knob  rises 

ection  of  the 
a  deep  gorge 
id  trap,  con- 
mygdaloidal. 
ular  and  con- 
Dnal  traces  of 
s  of  a  hard, 
le  north  55 
limited,  and 
of  valuable 

i,  24, 25,  and 
ly  were  very 

i    Hi-  ^>Wi 

map,  are  an 
Ibrm  the  cul- 
ear  Agogebic 
[ppean  rocks, 
the  geology 
lartzose  por- 
lis  not  want- 
Ino  valuable 
DW  the  char- 
all  advert  to 

• 

ipany  have 

|ier  company 

It  two  miles 

)ve  the  lake. 

f/een  parallol 

Along  the 

below,  and 

lal  chlorite, 


cnntolnmg  copper  in  bunches  and  disseminated.  On  this  bed  two  shafts 
have  been  sunk  to  the  respective  depths  of  100  and  128  feet,  and  a  gallery 
extended  between  thnm.  Two  vertical  shafts  were  also  sunk  to  intersect 
the  inclined  ones.  The  intention  of  the  company  was  to  make  use  of 
the  hydraulic  powtir  afforded  by  the  stream  to  raise  the  attle.  Subse- 
quently another -shaft  was  sunk  farther  north,  thrnugh  sandstone, 
which  intersected  the  bed  at  the  depth  of  120  feet;  but  the  attle  thrown  out 
disclosed  only  a  trace  of  copper.  The  hanging- wall  of  sandstone  afforded 
several  very  good  specianens  of  silver.  In  contact  with  the  foot-wall  there 
was  a  thin  seam  of  clayey  matter,  called  by  the  miners  flucan,  consisting 
of  decomposed  chlorite.  Near  the  surface  copper  was  found  in  considera- 
ble masses,  some  of  which  weighed*  50  pounds;  but  we  could  not  gather 
that  these  occurred  in  the  downward  progress  of  the  shafts.  The  copper 
here  often  forms  a  thin  envelope  around  the  exterior  of  the  vesicles  of  the 
trap,  while  the  middle  is  replaced  by  chlorite  or  calc  spar.  The  mass 
brouglit  to  the  surface  was  very  meagre  in  copper,  not  exceeding  one 
per  cent. 

In  the  bed  of  the  stream,  a  few  miles  above  the  mine,  is  a  large  mass 
of  quartzose  and  sparry  material  in  the  trap,  wiih  chlorite  interspersed, 
which  has  been  explored  to  some  extent.  It  has  a  reddish  tint,  coii^pau- 
nicated  by  the  sub-oxyde  of  copper.  The  workings  are  now  abandonded. 

Toitnship  51  y  range  42 — On  sections  22  and  27  the  Boston  Mining 
Company  have  made  surface  explorations,  whieh  resulted,  unfavorably,  in  a 
trap  belt,  which  is  an  extension  of  that  last  described.  There  is  a  vein  of 
quartz  and  silicate  of  lime,  containing  traces  of  metallic  copper,  which 
bears  NE.  and  SW.,  and  dips  NW.  at  an  angle  of  30°  or  40°,  and  varies 
from  eight  to  ten  feet  in  width.  The  trap  here  is  very  much  fractured, 
and  contains  seams  of  highly  polished  chloritic  matter  (slickensides.) 
At  the  junction  of  the  trap  and  sandstone,  no  signs  of  the  bed  wrought 
by  the  Union  River  Company  are  observable.  ^ 

Township  51,  range  42,  section  32. — Near  the  correction  line,  a  shaft 
has  been  sunk  to  the  depth  of  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  into  the  hard  jasper, 
which  remains  a  monument  both  of  persevering  industry  and  misdirected, 
effort;  since  the  difficulty  of  boring  and  blasting  the  close  grained  and 
tough  silicious  rock  could  only  be  equalled  by  the  absurdity  of  attempt- 
ing to  mine  a  seam  of  clay  in  perfectly  barren  walls. 

Township  51,  range  43. — This  township  has  been  the  site  of  much 
[mining  exploration,  and  therefore  deserves  more  than  a  passing  notice. 
It  is  much  broken  by  ranges  of  the  Porcupine  hills,  and  mural  precipices; 
extend  from  the  centre  of  section  13  to  30.     The  highest  point  is  976 
feet  above  the  lake,  and  on  the  side  opposite  the  coast  presents  a  vertical 
face  of  several  hundred  feet,  with  a  steep  talus  of  angular  fragments  at 
Ithe  bottom.    The  trap,  which  attains  a  thickness  of  several  hundred  feet, 
lis  included  within  parallel  planes  of  detrital  rocks.    This  range  bounds 
|tbe  valley  of  the  Carp  river  on  the  north;  while  to  the  south,  and  within 
the  distance  of  a  mile,  a  second  range  is  observed,  composed  of  amygda- 
loid, having  rounded  summits.    Still  beyond  occurs  the  elevated  range  of 
luartz  and  jasper  rocks,  in  which  no  trace  of  copper  has  been  detected. 
Vlmostall  of  tne  explorations  in  this  township  have  been  made  iii  the 
irst  range,  near  the  junction  of  the  trap  and  sandstone. 

On  section  14,  the  Isle  Royale  Company  explored  a  deposite  of  copper 

some  respects  similar  to  that  of  the  Union  Company.    The  sandstone 


:i 


80 


Doc.  No.  6^. 


masses  of  metallic  copper>  one  of  which  weighed  55  pounds,  were  found 
here  dips  at  an  an-'le  of  30°  to  the  north,  and  has  been  much  altered 
by  contact  with  the  igneous  rock.  A  seam,  about  a  foot  in  width, 
consisting  of  blue  plastic  clay  and  chlorite,  with  rounded  fragments 
of  sandstone,  is  interposed  between  the  two  formations.  In  this  seam 
directly  in  contact  with  the  trap.  An  inclined  drift  wms  carried  on  the 
bed  to  the  depth  of  20  feet,  but  the  traces  of  copper  became  more  iridis* 
tinct.  Several  feef  above  was  a  seam  of  calcspar,  from  one  to  four  inches 
in  width,  and  in  some  places  expanding  to  a  foot,  intermixed  With  fragw 
ments  of  the  walls,  forming  a  breccia;  several  feet  below,  a  narrow  seam, 
carrying  metallic  copper  was  observed,  but  it  gave  Mo  evidence  of 
being  valuable.    The  annexed  wood-cut  is  a  section  of  the  cliff  at  this 


Fig.  i. 


cation  between 


point.  About  one-fourth  of  a  mile  west, 
the  same  company  explored  one  of  the  vein- 
like masses  of  epidote,  associated  with 
native  copper,  like  those  west  of  the  On- 
tonagon, bearing  north  and  south,  but  it 
afforded  little  encouragement  to  persevere. 
Township  61,  range  43. — The  Delavan 
Company  explored  on  sections  27  and 
28.  There  are  no  regular  veins  or  ap- 
pearances of  veins  on  either  of  these  sec- 
tions. The  rock  is  epidote,  passing  into 
^  amygdaloidal  trap,  so  intermixed,  that  it 

"^  is  impossible  to  draw  the  line  of  demar- 
them.  The  amygdules  are  often  filled  with  epidote, 
both  pulverulent  and  crystalline— the  bright  green  of  the  former  forming  a 
striking  contrast  with  the  dark  brown  of  the  latter.  A  shaft  was  sunk  a 
few  feet  in  the  rock,  which  here  presents  a  very  brecciated  appearancoj 
traversed  by  numerous  seams  contahiing  calc-spar  and  the  zeolitic  minerals. 
Traces  of  the  gray  sulphuret  of  copper  were  here  observed,  and  also  on 
section  21 ;  on  the  adjoining  section  32  the  Croton  Company  sank  a  shaft 
in  a  similar  rock,  but  found  nothing  to  induce  them  to  persevere. 

On  section  30,  the  Isle  Royale  Company  mined  pretty  extensively. 
The  character  of  the  rock  is  similar  to  that  on  section  14,  before  described. 
With  regard  to  the  Porcupine  mountains  it  may  be  said,  without  hesi- 
tation, that  there  are  no  indications  of  copper  of  sufficient  promise  to 
warrant  mining  enterprises.  There  are  no  true,  well-defined  lodes,  bul 
irregular  seams  promiscuously  scattered  through  the  trap. 

We  have  endeavored  to  give,  briefly,  a  synopsis  of  what  has  been  donfi 
in  the  way  of  exploitation  by  the  several  companies.  Onginally,  all  of  I 
the  trap  belt  was  secured  by  permits,  and  even  portions  of  the  sandstone. 
It  will  hardly  be  necessary  to  say  that  these  permits  were  located  at  a 
time  when  the  speculative  fever  ran  high,  and  when  the  mere  presence  of 
trap  was  regarded  as  a  sure  index  of  the  proximity  of  valuable  lodes  of 
copper.  Before  the  expiration  of  1848,  nearly  all  of  tho  companies  in 
this  region  had  abandoned  their  locations,  i»garding  them  as  worthless; 
and,  at  the  end  of  the  succeeding  season,  there  was  not,  to  our  knowl*  | 
edge,  a  white  man  left. 


Doc.  No.  69. 

ISLE   ROYaIg. 


81 


111  many  respects,  Isle  Royale  may  be  regarded  as  the  counterpart  of 
Keweenaw  Point.  On  both,  the  lines  of  upheaval  are  nearly  parallel,  ex- 
hibit the  same  banded  structure,  and  yield  the  same  metallic  products. 

There  are,  however,  minor  differences.  The  conglomerates  here  are 
not  developed  on  so  grand  a  scale— different  systenas  o^  fracture  are  found 
to  prevail;  but  on  both  shores,  the  lines  of  inclination  converge  towards 
a  common  centre,  forming  a  synclinal  valley  sevt.il  hundred  feet  below 
the  ocean-level,  which  is  occupied  by  the  waters  of  the  great  lake. 

We  have  seen  that  the  Jesuits  formed  the  most  extravagant  notions  with 
regard  to  the  mineral  wealth  of  this  island;  and  those  notions,  though 
greatly  modified,  prevailed  among  the  explorers  at  a  later  day.  Nothing, 
however,  has  been  revealed  to  justify  those  expectations;  and  the  island,, 
for  mining  purposes.,  may  be  regarded  as  infinitely  less  valuable  than  Ke^ 
weenaw  Point,  or  the  region  in  the  vicinity, of  the  Ontonagon. 

In  an  agricultural  point  of  view,  it  is  less  valuable  than  any  portion  of 
equal  extent  in  the  district.  The  soil  is  scanty,  and  the  timber  which  it 
sustains  is  dwarfed  and  stunted. 

Range  and  extent — metallic  contents. — The  trappean  rocks  range 
through  the  island  in  a  northeasterly  and  southwesterly  direction,  forming 
numerous  ridges,  which  seldom  attain  an  elevation  five  hundred  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  lake.  Almost  everywhere  they  present  a  bedded 
structure,  and  the  beds  display  marked  lithological  differences.  The  lines 
of  bedding  almost  invariably  are  found  to  be  coincident  with  the  lines  of 
stratification  in  the  detrital  rocks  which  occur  on  tiie  southern  portion  of 
the  island. 

A  line  drawn  from  the  western  extremity  of  the  island ,  and  cutting  mid- 
way between  Siskawit  lake  and  the  bay  of  the  same  name,  would  repre- 
fient  the  junction  between  the  two  formations— the  igneous  occupying  the 
northern,  the  aqueous  the  southern  portion.  From  the  eastern  ix)int  the 
line  curves  abruptly,  and  appvoaf.hes  the  shore  on  the  south.  There  is 
evidence  of  a  powerful  lateral  dislocation  here,  by  which  one  portion  of  the 
mass  has  been  forced  beyond  the  corresponding  portion,  thus  interrupting 
the  continuity  of  the  strata.  Other  evidences  of  the  same  phenomena  have 
been  observed  on  other  portions  of  the  island,  which  will  be  described  in 
the  detailed  geology.  The  length  of  the  line  occupied  by  the  trap,  from 
Phelps's  island,  in  Washington  Harbor,  to  Passage  island,  which  is  an  ex- 
tension of  Blake's  Point,  is  fifty  one  nules;  its  breadth  varies  from  four 
and  a  half  to  seven  miles.  The  physical  obstructions  to  a  successful  ex- 
ploration  of  the  interior  of  the  island  a  3  g.veater  than  we  have  encoiuitered 
in  any  other  portion  of  the  mineral  district. 

The  shores  are  lined  with  dense  but  dwarfed  forests  of  cedar  and 
spruce,  with  their  branches  interlocking  and  wreathed  with  long  and 
drooping  festoons  of  moss.  While  the  tops  of  the  *rees  flourish  luxu- 
riantly, the  lower  branches  die  off"  and  stand  out  as  so  many  spikes,  to 
oppose  tlife  progress  of  the  explorer.  So  dense  is  the  interwoven  mass  of 
foliage  that  the  noonday  sunlight  hardly  penetrates  it.  The  air  is  stifled ; 
and  at  every  step  the  explorer  starts  up  swarms  of  musquitoes,  which, 
the  very  instant  he  pauses,  assail  him.  Bad  as  this  region  is  by  nature, 
man  has  rendered  it  still  worse.  Fires  have  swept  over  large  tracts,  con- 
sumina:  the  leaves  and  tv.'igs  and  destroying  the  growth,  while  the  heuVy 
0 


■i  f 


>,  I 


82 


Doc.  No.  69. 


winds  have  prostrated  the  half-charred  trunks,  and  piled  them  up  so  as  to 
form  almost  impenetrable  barriers. 

As  we  ascend  the  ridges,  the  maple  and  the  birch  replace  the  cedar  and 
the  spruce,  and  the  physical  obstructions  become  less  formidable.  These 
ridges  occur  at  short  intervals,  and  preserve  a  great  degree  of  parallelism — 
bearing  northwest  and  southeast,  and  are  uniformly  precipitous  on  the 
north,  and  gently  sloping  on  the  south.  The  valleys  between  are  occu- 
pied by  swamps,  clothed  with  a  dense  growth  of  resinous  trees,  or  wit!i 
small  lakes  arranged  in  chains.  The  coast  of  the  island  is  rock-bound, 
and,  like  Iceland,  intersected  by  tmmerous  feiordi',  or  narrow  and  deeply 
indented  bays. 

In  describing  the  detailed  geology,  we  commence  at  the  eastern  ex- 
tremity of  the  island,  and  thence  proceed  west. 

Range  32. —  Passage  island  occurs  within  this  range.  It  is  three  miles 
from  the  nearest  point  of  the  main  land,  and  was  fabled  as  possessing 
rocks  of  pure  copper,  so  tViat  \vhen  a  stone  was  cast  against  ther.i  a  sound 
like  that  proceeding  from  brass  was  emitted.  It  is  two  miles  in  length, 
and  its  shores  are  rock  bound,  but  indented  with  numerous  bays,  which 
afford  excellent  boat-harbors.  The  prevailing  rock  is  a  dark  varioloid  trap, 
which  rises  near  the  centre  of  the  island  to  the  height  of  more  than  one 
hundred  feet,  intersected  by  numerous  veins  running  north  and  south, 
but  nowhere  affording  much  inducement  for  mining  enterprise. 
'  Rans^e  33,  townships  Q^  and  67. — Within  these  townships  are  numer- 
ous projecting  headlands  and  deeply  indented  bays,  known  as  the  Fingers 
of  Isle  iloyale.  The  southern  portion  of  Rock  Harbor  is  bciinded  by  a  re-^f 
■of  islands,  twenty-four  in  number,  arranged  in  a  linear  direction.  The 
rock  is  a  dark -gray  trap,  not  very  firm,  and  occasionally  contfiins  amyg- 
dules,  filled  with  agate,  chlorite,  chlorastrolite,  calc-spar,  licc.  A  narrow- 
belt  of  conglomerate  is  seen  intercalated  in  the  trap,  bearinfj  northeast  and 
southwest,  and  dipping  southeast  12°,  and  good  exposures  cMcur  on  Cari- 
bou and  Mott's  islaiuls.  A  seam  of  calc-spar,  about  eight  in  ches  in  thick- 
ness, conforming  in  course  and  inclination  to  the  conglomerate,  runs* 
through  several  of  these  islands,  which,  in  a  region  remolo  from  masses  of 
limestone,  may  ultimately  prove  of  economical  value.  On  Mott's  iskmd 
and  Shaw's  island  there  are  veins  of  considerable  power,  but,  owing  to  the 
proximity  of  the  lake,  it  Avas  thought  that  they  would  never  prove  valu- 
abij,  since  it  would  be  impossible  to  free  the  mines  from  water. 

Scovill^s  Point. — A  cap  of  dark-gray  trap,  breaking  into  cuboidal  blocks, 
and  well  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  construction,  is  here  seen,  forming  the 

northern     boundaiy 
of  Rock  Harbor.    It 
rises  in  cliffs  thirty 
and  even  fifty  feet  in 
height,  forming   an 
excellent     sea-wall. 
:From   the   head   of 
the  harbor  to  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  point 
I  there  is  not  a  pebble 
I  beach  of  any  extent. 
;|f  Beneath    the    com- 
pact trap  is  a  thin 
band  of  amygdaloid; 


Pig.  8. 


Doc.  No.  ^9. 


88 


)  so  as  to 

edar  and 
.  These 
Uelism — 
18  on  the 
are  occu- 
5,  or  \vit5i 
k-bound, 
id  deeply 

istern  ex- 

iree  miles 
jossessing 
a  a  sound 
in  length , 
ys,  -which 
oloid  trap, 
e  than  one 
ind  south, 

ire  numer- 
he  Fingers 
>A  by  a  re-^f 
tion.  The 
tins  amyg- 

A  narrow 
rtheast  and 
ur  on  Cari- 
3s  in  thick- 
lerate,  runs 
n  masses  of 
ott's  iskmd 
)wing  to  the 

prove  valu- 

r. 

lidal  blocks, 
forming  the 
boundaiy 
Harbor.    It 
cUfFs  thirty 
1  fifty  feet  in 
forming   an 
sea-wall, 
le   head   of 
or  to  the  ex- 
J  the  point 
not  a  pebble 
any  extent. 
the    com- 
is  a  thill 
amygdaloid; 


P 


i 


below  this  a  bed  of  columnar  trap,  which  gradually  rises  as  we  advance 
northward.  The  columns  are  arranged  in  prisms  of  five,  six  and  sevea 
sides,  broken  by  joints,  at  short  intervals;  but  we  nowhere  observed  the 
structure  known  as  ball  and  socket.  The  adjoining  sketch,  taken  on  the 
north  side  of  Scov  il's  Point,  will  convey  a  correct  idea  of  tlie  appearance 
of  the  columnar  trap, 

8 1  In  the  compact  trap  a  well-defined  vein  of  considerable  power  is  seen, 
bearing  north  of  east  and  south  of  west,  and  extending  almost  uninter- 
ruptedly from  Ransom  to  the  extremity  of  the  point — a  distance  of  Nearly 
nine  miles.  This  has  been  explored  at  different  points  by  the  Ohio 
and  Isle  Royale  Company,  by  the  Siskawit  Company,  and  by  Messrs. 
Shaw  and  Scovill.  The  vein  stohe  consists  of  chlorite,  quartz,  and  culc 
spar,  \vith  native  copper  in  thin  sheets  and  in  bunches,  and  in  the  com- 
pact trap  presents  favoralle  indications,  but,  on  entering  the  columnar  trap, 
it  rapidly  contracts  and  becomes  worthless.  A  more  detailed  description 
of  this  vein  will  be  found  under  the  head  of  Mines. 

The  columnar  trap  is  also  seen  on  Blake's  Point  and  on  Silver  island. 
The  amygdaloid  before  described  crops  out  on  the  southern  side  of  the 
point.  It  is  of  a  dark-brown  color,  and  contains  numerous  agates  and 
vein-like  masses  of  pitch  stone.  On  Blaice's  Point,  the  trap  attains  an 
elevation  of  250  feet,  and  consists  of  a  dark-gray  varioloid  greenstone, 
traversed  by  numerous  belts  of  sienite,  (crystalline  feldspar  and  horn- 
blende,) arranged  in  strataiform  masses.  Copper  is  generally  found  dis- 
seminated through  these  belts. 

On  section  33,  township  66,  a  vein  can  be  traced,  bearing  north  50°  east, 
containing  quartz,  chlorite,  and  spar,  with  considerable  copper.  It  is  in 
the  varioloid  trap,  but,  at  the  depth  of  15  feet,  one  of  the  sienitic  bands 
occurs,  in  which  the  vein  is  ill  defined. 

On  the  northw^est  quarter  of  section  33  is  one  of  those  natural  monu- 
ments which  instantly  attracts  the  eye  of  the  observer,  known  as  "  The 
Cloven  Tower." 

The  varioloid  trap  here  rises  in  two  columns  to  the  height  of  about  sixty 
feet,  which  are  separated  from  one  another  by  an  interval  of  only  a  few 
inches  in  width.  They  are  very  symmetrical,  resembling  obelisks,  and 
altogether  form  one  of  the  most  pleasing  features  in  the  scenery  of  the 
island. 

The  varioloid  trap  skirts  the  southern  coast  of  Duncan's  bay,  in  bold 
overhanging  cliffs.  F.jiu  Iheir  summits,  the  eye  hao  an  almtst  unlimit- 
ed range.  To  the  north,  the  Canada  coast  can  be  traced  for  more  than  a 
hundred  miles:  all  of  the  prominent  points — St.  Ignace,  the  Paps,  Thun- 
der cape.  Pie  island,  McKay's  mountain,  and  Prince's  bay — are  distinct- 
ly visible.  I'he  many  inlets  around  tlie  island,  fring«d  with  evergreens, 
are  seen  almost  beneath  the  feet.  To  the  east  and  south,  a  boundless 
expanse  of  water  stretches  out,  unenliven^^d  by  sail  or  other  evidence  of 
man's  works.  In  peculiar  stages  of  the  atmosphere,  the  outlines  of  Ke- 
weenaw Point  may  be  traced,  resting  like  a  cloud  v.pon  the  verge  of  the 
horizon.  The  amygdaloid  emerges  from  the  base  of  these  cliff's,  and,  for 
the  most  part,  forms  the  underlying  rock  on  Locke'.s  Point.  It  is  of  a 
dark-brown  color,  and  very  soft,  dipping  southerly  at  an  angle  of  40°. 

Range  34,  toiniskips  65,  66,  and  67.  —The  following  sectiotf,  across  the 
island,  nearly  tlirough  the  centro  of  these  townships,  north  and  south, 
v.'ill  shovv  the  contours  of  the  country  and  its  geological  structure. 


^ 


:H 


.0 


Xi"    \"M  f 


i 


^■j,i 


••i*''T.:  !;;•    J     -itil:   t;  'ii-i-'-i.:';    .  ,  ■,  .', 
,'  ,'i'i    .-.,1;    •;,-,    ,',;:•.;■  ^.r--    '.  '■■    •■- 


•1 


,  f    ; 


f;  .     .'^  I 


■  r 

rj 
( 


ui:-      :';o'f 


^J  -4 


;.J 


,!-••  v:ti. 


■I'll'  "'i- 


■V: 


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i 

1 

mdu. 

■iKl'T 

■•iM  '. 


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a  3 

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p  a. 


I 


3 


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O    "n 
CD    i-« 

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^® 

w 


c& 


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(S 


Lake. 

•••  ■      P  Fish  island. 

Bay. 


i/;li  Summit. 
''^" '  ^'^      513. 


Cold  ron. 
120. 

Scovill's  ridge. 
263. 


■■'"Rock  Harbor. 


§ 


"Conglomsrate 
bay. 


V 


Lhko. 


Doc.  No.  69.  ' 


Fig.  10. 


The  southern  coast  in  this  range  is  rock-bound,  the  rocks  often  rising 
in  rounded,  irregular  masses  to  the  height  of  fifty  feet,.  Numerous  coves 
occur,  bounded  by  high  cliffs  at  the  entrance,  with  pebbly  beaches  at  the 
extremity,  which  are  secure  places  of  refuge  in  a  storm,  come  from  what 
quarter  it  may. 

The  entrance  to  Chippewa  Harbor  affords  a  beautiful  section  of  the  in- 
tercalations of  the  sandstone  and  trap,  there  being  no  less  than  five  in  the 
distance  of  less  than  a  mile.  These  beds  bear  SW.  and  NE.,  and  dip 
from  12°  to  20'^  to  the  SE.,  and  respectively  vary  from  a  foot  to  80  feet  iu 
thickness.  When  traced  across  the  harbor  a  few  rods  only  in  extent, 
they  are  found  to  have  been  subjected  to  a  powerful  dislocation,  extend- 
ing in  a  NW.  and  SE.  direction,  and  amounting  to  971  feet  in  a  linear 
direction. 

At  and  near  the  junctions  of  these  different  rocks,  marked  changes  in 
their  hthological  characters  are  observed,  which  throw  much  light  on 
their  origin. 

The  upper  portions  of  the  sheets  of  trap  are  highly  vesicular,  resem- 
bling pumice.  Fragments  of  amygdaloid,  sometimes  rounded,  at  others 
angular,  are  found  enclosed  in  the  pumice-like  trap,  as  though  they 
had  become  detached  and  afterwards  reunited  to  the  mass,  while  in  a 
molten  state.  Numerous  short  and  irregular  fissures,  extending  to 
no  great  depth,. are  observed  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  trap,  in  which 
sandstone  has  been  deposited.     The  following  sketch  will  explain  the 

nature  of  the  fissures  and  the  position 
of  the  included  fragments  of  amygda- 
loid. Between  the  sandstone  above  and 
the  trap  below,  it  is  extremely  difficult  to 
determine  where  the  one  begins  and  the 
other  ends.  Fragments  of  amygdaloid, 
angular  or  partly  rounded,  are  included 
in  the  sandstone — more  numerous  near 
the  base  than  at  the  top  of  the  depos- 
ites.  Where  the  sandstone  is  imposed 
071  the  trap,  there  is  little  evidence  of 
its  having  been  metamorphosed;  but,  on  tlia  other  hand,  where  the 
trap  rests  on  the  sandstone,  the  line  of  junction  is  clear  and  well  defined. 
The  trap  is  less  vesicular;  and  the  upper  portion  of  the  sandstone  belt,  for 
the  distance  of  three  or  four  feet,  is  converted  into  a  ribbon  jasper,  having 
a  compact  texture.  These  phenomena  have  been  observed  at  numerous 
places  both  on  Isle  Royaleand  Keweenaw  Point.  The  beds  of  sandstone 
are  not  shattered,  nor  does  the  igneous  rock  penetrate  in  the  form  of  dikes 
or  ramifying  veins.  All  the  phenomena  indicate  that  the  igneous  rocks 
were  not  protruded  in  the  form  of  dikes  between  the  strata,  but  that  they 
flowed  like  lava  sheets  over  the  pre-existing  surface;  and  that  the  sand  was 
deposited  in  the  fissures  and  depressions  of  the  igneous  belt,  in  some 
cases,  while  the  mass  was  in  an  incandescent  state. 

A  bed  of  crystalline  calc-spar,  varying  in  thickness  from  six  inches  to 
two  feet,  is  observed  in  Chippewa  Harbor,  and  is  well  adapted  to  making 
quicklime.    Thin  beds  of  epidote,  containing  native  copper,  are  also  ob- 
served, having  a  bearing  and  dip  conformable  to  the  sandstone. 
Such  is  the  nature  of  the  amntry,  that  it  is  impossible  to  trace  these 


S8 


Doc.  No.  69.  f 


*  -''i 


coBgtomernte  bands  to  aiiy  considerable  extent,  but  thay  probably  wedge- 
out  in  short  distances,  forming  in  fact  lenticular  bandi?. 

A  thin  belt  of  conglomerate  lines  the  northern  shore  of  Congloraerale- 
bay,  with  a  dip  of  t)°  to  the  southeast,  and  is  protracted  thence  along  the 
southern  shore  of  Rock  Harbor.  A  thin  belt  of  sandstone  occurs  about 
a  fourth  of  a  mile  north  of  Ransom  and  this  is  the  farthest  point  north 
along  the  line  of  the  section  at  which  the  purely  detrital  rocks  have  been 
observed . 

Between  the  lake  shore  and  Rock  Harbor,  embracing  the  fractional 
towrtship  65  and  the  extreme  southeast  portion  of  00,  the  rock  is  a  dark 
compact  trap,  occasionally  amygdaloidal,  consisting  of  hornblende,  chlorite, 
and  feldspar.  The  stratiform  appearance  in  places  is  very  marked,  par- 
ticularly near  Conglomerate  bay,  resembling  in  some  respects  a  sedimen- 
tary rock  altered  by  heat.  Occasionally  a  band  of  crystalline  greenstone 
is  found  included  in  the  softer  rock. 

The  ridges  which  form  the  Fingers  of  the  islasd,  before  described,  ex- 
tend through  township  60,  and  present  few  differences  in  external  char- 
acters. The  crystalline  greenstone  which  characterizes  the  middle  range, 
and  of  which  Blake's  Point  may  be  regarded  as  the  prolongation,  forms 
tlie  culminating  point  on  this  part  of  the  island.  In  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  15  it  rises  to  the  height  of  five  hundred  and  thirteen  feet. 
In  crossing  the  island  from  Rock  Harbor  to  Amygdaloid  island,  the  trav- 
eller encounters  a  series  of  sharp  ridges,  with  intervening  swamps.  The 
escarpments  are  invariably  on  the  north  side,  while  on  the  south  the  slope 
is  gradual.  The  clusters  of  islands  and  headlands  on  the  northern 
portion  of  this  township  consist  of  amygdaloidal  and  compact  trap,  but 
afford  little  encouragement  for  mining  enterprise. 

The  best  mining-ground  in  this  range  is  near  the  junction  of  the  two 
systems  of  rocks  in  township  65.  The  trap  is  traversed  by  numerous 
veins,  some  of  which  appear  to  bemetalliferoas.  The  main  veins  pursue 
an  easterly  and  westerly  course  parallel  with  the  formation,  but  dip  to  the 
northwest,  thus  forming  nearly  a  right  angle  to  the  inclination  of  the 
sedimentary  rocks.  Datholite,  in  many  cases,  forms  nearly  the  entire 
gangue.  Numerous  explorations  have  been  made  in  this  vicinity  by  the 
Ohio  and  Isle  Royale  Company,  which  will  be  noticed  under  the  head  of 
Mines. 

Range  35.  tmmiships  65  and  66. — Sandstone  and  conglomerate  forms 
the  projecting  points  by  the  lake  shore  in  the  southwest  qaarter  of  town- 
ship 65,  Along  the  line  of  junction  the  same  phenomena  are  ob- 
served as  at  Ohippe  Ara  Harbor.  The  coast  is  lined  by  heavy  masses  of 
trap,  with  occasional  indentations,  which  afford  excellent  boat-harbors. 
Powerful  fissures  traverse  the  rock  in  a  northerly  direction,  and  occa- 
sionally afford  indications  of  copper.  On  section  34  a  vein  of  this  kind 
has  been  explored  to  a  limited  extent.  Stratiform  masses  of  epidote,  con- 
taining copper,  are  also  observed,  included  in  the  trapw. 

Receding  from  the  lake  shore,  the  country  becomes  low,  and  the  rock 
rarely  emerges  to  the  surface.  In  the  south  part  of  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  24,  amygdaloidal  trap  was  observed,  containing  the  zeolite  min- 
erals. It  is  exposed  in  the  bed  of  the  stream  which  connects  Siskawit 
lake  with  the  bay,  almost  in  contact  with  the  conglomerate,  and  is  trav- 
ersed by  numerous  and  apparently  contemporaneous  fissures,  occasionally 
affording  traces  of  copper. 

After  crossing  the  first  chain  of  lakes,  the  country  is  intersected  by 


Doc.  No.  69. 


SO 


ne  rock 
quartet 
ite  min- 
Siskawit 
is  trav- 
sionally 


many  sharp  ridges,  sloping  from  the  summit  to  the  souflieast,  but  breaking 
off  abruptly  in  perpendicular  cliffs  to  the  northwest.  The  rock  is  a 
hard  crystalline  greenstone,  with  belts  of  porphyry  similar  to  those  before 
described. 

At  the  head  of  McCargoe's  cove,  the  rock  is  amygdaloidal  trap;  but 
between  this  point  and  the  lake  shore,  on  either  side,  high  cliffs  of  green- 
stone occur,  'he  same  rock  bounds  the  coast  from  the  outlet  of  this 
cove  to  Touu'5  Harbor,  intermingled  -with  bands  of  porphyritic  trap, 
having  the  regularity  of  sedimentary  deposites.  This  appearance  is  parti- 
cularly marked  on  the  main  shore,  opposite  Hawk  island.  The  outer 
reef  consists  of  amygdaloid  which  is  also  seen  underlying  the  greensfoneat 
the  eastern  extremity  of  Todd's  Harbor.  Occasionally  veins  running 
north  and  south  traverse  the  greenstone,  but  are  for  the  most  part 
pinched  and  unproductive.  The  best  vein  of  this  class  hitherto  observed 
occurs  on  section  12,  in  the  adjoining  range  west,  and  is  wrought  by  the 
Pittsburg  and  Isle  Royale  Company,  with  a  good  prospect  of  success. 

Range  36,  townships  64  inid  65. — The  northern  coast  of  the  island  in 
this  range  is  lined  with  high  cliffs  of  greenstone,  so  httle  indented  as  to 
afford  hardly  a  boat-harbor.  It  breaks  into  cuboidal  blocks,  and  occasionally 
presents  the  banded  structure  before  described.  Numerous  north -and-south 
veins  are  observed,  and  the  gangue  almost  invariably  exhibits  traces  of 
copper.  In  the  interior,  the  main  range  of  trap  courses  through  the 
township  in  a  northeasterly  and  southwesterly  direction,  but  the  subordi 
nate  ridges  are  less  clearly  marked.  The  southeastern  portion  of  town- 
ship 65  is  low,  and  the  rock  raiely  emerges  to  the  surface.  The  same 
remarks  will  apply  to  the  fractional  township  64.  Near  the  southern 
border  of  Siskawit  lake,  the  linear  surveyors  are  said  to  have  discovered 
a  vein  of  some  promise;  but  it  escaped  .our  notice.  They  also  found  on 
the  shores  of  this  lake  amass  of  native  copper  weighing  about  twenty 
pounds.  The  southern  coast  in  this  range  consists  of  conglomerate  ani 
sandstone. 

Range  37,  toitmships  64  afid  ^"v. — A  hue  drawn  from  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  13,  in  township  •>4,  to  the  centre  of  section  31,  will  in- 
aicate  very  nearly  the  junction  ol  ti^'  two  systems  of  rocks.  In  following 
"up  the  small  stream  which  flow?  into  the  northern  arm  of  Siskawit  bay, 
tlie  trap  is  exposed  for  the  first  time  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
23.  Numerous  parallel  ridges  are  intersected  in  crossing  the  island, 
which  attain  no  great  elevation.  The  highest  range  lies  immediately 
north  of  Lac  Desor,  and  consists  of  greenstone,  affording  no  evidence 
of  veins.  The  northern  coast  in  this  range  is  so  girt  with  rocks  that  in 
•  rough  weather  it  is  impossible  for  the  voyageur  to  effect  a  landing. 

Range  38,  townshifs  ^atid  65. — But  a  small  portion  of  township  64  is 
embraced  in  the  trap  range,  and  the  heavy  accumulations  of  drift  effect- 
ually conceal  the  rock.  A  ridge  of  hills,  two  or  three  hundred  feet  high, 
skirts  Washington  Harbor  on  the  south,  which  are  so  covered  with  debris 
that  the  rock  cannot  be  well  exploded.  Loose  masses  of  veinstone  have 
been  observed  on  the  flanks  of  the  hi'ls,  which  would  seem  to  indicate 
the  presence  of  veins. 

Another  elevated  ridge  occurs  between  Washington  Harbor  and  the 
lake  shore  on  the  north.  Tlje  rocks  ris-?  in  bold,  perjjeudicular  cliffs,  and 
from  their  summits  the  eye  h^s  an  almost  unlimited  range. 

The  shore  is  rock-bouii  '.  cliffs  ranging  in  almost  unbroken  lines, 
and  presenting  a  wall  like  fa     ,^  wards  the  lake  in  many  places  a  hundrei 


ilk 


90 


Doc.  No.  69. 


■',!:     m 


feet  in  height.    Hugennin's  cove  is  the  only  harbor  in  thi.^    I  -inity  in 
which  the  voyageur  can  take  refuge. 

The  cUflTs  along  the  shore  exhibit  numerous  alternations  of  difi'erent 

jgneou^  lOCKb.     The  fjllowing  sketch  was  taken  on  sec  tion  28.    Thin 

Fig.  11.  bauds  of  porphyry  are  found 

_=L-^_-:i  -  ^.bedded  in    daik  compact 

^^^'^^                   ^Q  correspond  with  those  of 
the  detrital  rocks. 

At  another  pojnt  on  the  coast  the  following  section  was  observed : 

Feet.  Inches. 

Coir.r^act  trap,  breaking^  into  cuboidal  Mocks       .       -        ...        15  0 

Porphyritic  trap   .----------         0  3 

Compact  trap       ----»--..-■-         4  0 

Porphyritic  trap  -----------         0  2 

Compact  trap       ..-.-.-.-.-          l  6 

Porphyritic  trap    .-.-•------          1  U 

Camp'ict  trap        ....-.-..--         1  (i 

^  23  5 

These  alternations  exhibited  well-defined  lines  of  junction,  and  pre- 
served their  parallelism  along  the  face  of  the  cliff,  as  far  as  exposed.  The 
bearing  and  dip  were  the  same  as  in  the  section  before  described.  The 
lines  of  division  pursued  an  unde     tting  course  through  the  several  bands. 

A  small  vein  was  observed  at  one  point  cutting  vertically  through  these 
bands,  and  the  veinstone  exhibited  marked  changes  in  its  passage  through 
the  different  belts. 

At  a  point  about  one-half  of  a  mile  to  the  west,  numerous  alternations 
of  compact  trap  and  amygdaloid  were  observed,  having  the  same  regu- 
larity in  bedding  andincUnation. 

We  have  observed  this  banded  structure  in  the  igneous  rocks,  at  shott 
intervals,  from  Blalce's  Point  nearly  to  Washington  Harbor,  a  distance  of 
forty-five  miles;  and  throughout  the  entire  extent  of  the  island  they  pre- 
sent aremarkable  uniformity  in  bearing  and  inclination.  They  were,  un- 
doubtedly, deposited  at  "first  in  nearly  horizontal  sheets,  and  owe  their 
present  inclination  to  the  same  upheaval  which  aplifted  the  associated 
sedimentary  rocks.  We  regard  them  as  purely  igneous  products,  and 
not  as  the  result  of  metamorphism. 

Range  39,  townships  63  and  64. — Between  Hugennin's  cove  and 
Washington  Harbor,  the  trap  Unes  the  coast  in  overhanging  cliffs  a  hun- 
dred and  fifiy  feet  in  height.    In  rounding  the  end  of  the  island,  where 


Doc.  No.  69. 


91 


■  'inity  m 

different 
8.    Thin 
are  lound 
compact 
northeast 
dip  south- 
r  these  ai- 
re due  to 
I'sof  igne- 
tie  result  of 
while  the 
an  incan- 
ire  not  pre- 
,re  inclined 
lion,  since 
g  are  fdund 
h  those  of 

rved: 

ct.    Inches. 

15  0 


0 
4 
0 
1 
1 
1 


3 

0 
2 
6 

U 
C 


and  pre- 
:)sed.  The 
ibed.  The 
reral  bands, 
rough  these 

e  through 

alternations 
same  regu- 

ks,  at  short 
distance  of 

id  theypre- 
y  were,  un- 

1  owe  their 
associated 

aducts,  and 

cove  and 
liffs  a  hun- 
aud,  where 


the  different  beds  of  unequal  firmness  have  been  exposed  to  the  action  of 
the  surf,  numerous  coves  are  observed  walled  up  on  either  side,  and  skirt- 
ed at  the  extremities  by  agate  beaches.  Rounded  masses  ni  prehnite 
containing  copper  are  abundant  on  all  of  the  islands,  and  several  beautiful 
specimens  of  silver  have  been  picked  up  in  the  same  association. 

Phelps's  island,  on  the  southern  side  of  the  harbor,  holds  out  strong  in- 
ducements for  mining  enterprise.  On  ihf  southeast  short,  (section  10)  is 
a  vein,  bearing  south-southeast,  18  in  es  wide,  containing  calc-spar, 
prehnite,  and  native  copper.  Still  turther  to  the  east  is  another  vein  of  great 
power,  bearing  nearly  north  and  south,  and  thirty  inches  in  width.  The 
veinstone  consists  of  quart?  la''  nnite,  "id  prehnite,  with  native  copper 
disseminated. 

On  the  southeast  quarter  of  du  section  is  another  copper-bearing 

vein,  well  defined,  and  seve     "  vi'th. 

Appended  to  this  chapter  v  id  a  tabular  list  of  the  tracts  in 

this  district  supposed  to  contain  c 

In  designating  such  lands  as  were  ugarded  as  mineral,  we  have  been 
governed  by  the  following  considerations; 

All  of  that  portion  underlaid  by  sandstone  and  conglomerate  has  been 
excluded — experience  having  demonstrated  that,  although  they  contain 
traces  of  copper,  no  valuable  lodes  need  be  expected. 

We  have  restricted  the  mineral  lands  to  such  portions  of  the  trap  ranges 
as  were  sufficiently  elevated  for  mining  purposes,  where  the  rock  was 
exposed  on  the  surface,  and,  from  its  external  characters  and  proximity  to 
veins  of  known  value  afforded  evidence  of  productive  lodes. 

Although  the  Porcupine  mountains  afford  good  exposures  of  the  rock, 
and  contain  abundant  traces  of  copper,  neither  the  character  of  the  veins 
nor  of  the  containing  rocks  affords  a  reasonable  prospect  for  successful 
mining.  For  this  reason,  we  have  included  no  poriion  of  it  in  the  list 
of  mineral  lands.  The  same  remarks  will  apply  to  the  trap  range  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Montreal  river. 

In  designating  the  mineral  lands  on  Isle  Royale,  we  have  encountered 
much  difficulty.  The  metalliferous  bands,  as  we  have  seen  from  the  de- 
tailed geology,  are  extremely  narrow,  particularly  in  the  northern  portion ; 
but  the  physical  obstnictions  were  such  as  to  prevent  a  successful  explo- 
ration inland.  We  have  accordingly  designated  such  tracts  as  were  suf- 
ficiently elevated  above  the  lake  for  mining  purposes,  and  gave  evidence 
of  being  metalliferous,  without  reference  to  the  thickness  of  the  belts. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


/. 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


Ul     lil 

:!:  1^  mil  2.0 


1.8 


1.4 


1.6 


V] 


<^ 


% 


/a 


W    c 


«% 


"^        v-V* 


/A 


'/ 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


0 


Ua 


i 


02 


Doc.  No.  6&: 


■<<■. 


i:Ji: 


ffl 


m 


'  List  of  the  miheral  lands   of  Keweenaw  Point,  Lake  Stiptrior  land 

v....  ..    ,  .        ,.     ^  district. 


Section. 


■ 

ill'.- 


t;;i 


-!' 

-o! 
•U' 


7 

17 

.18 

19 

8« 

4 
,  5 

6 

7 

8 
'  9 
10 
13 
.14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
SI 
98 
84 
•^87 
24 

1 

2 

7 

8 

9 
10 
11 
13 
13 
14 
15 
Jb 
17 
18 
19 
SO 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
87 
28 
29 
30 
31  . 
32 

6 

7 

8 

9 
10 
Jl 
12 


.., „  ,jPai!t.  ,  ...,  ,      ., 

.'fN>  i-'f .' -.ff  ,!i.fi»;i!  'if''!'),-  ',.fi!-.  rvf'^.'fUin.:  ■■.id  .('lo  . 


SW.  t. 
W.  i.. 

All. 


N.J... 
NW.  \ 

S.i... 
S.i... 

All 

All 

All 

All 


All 

N.  1  and  S£.  l 

NE.  i 
S. 


i 


SE.i 

NE.  i 

N.  4  and  8E.  i. 
All. 


W.  i.. 

Nw!V 

N. 


S.  4 

S.4 

All. 

All 

All. 

S 


k' 


All... 
N.i. 
N.4. 
N.|. 
N.i, 
N.i. 
N  ' 
S  i 

s.  I 

S.  i 

AIL. 

N.i. 

N.i. 

N.i. 

All.. 


i- 


AH 

All 

All 

Nl 

N  i 

NW.  i 

E.  lands W.  i. 

All 

All 

All 

All 

All 


Township 

Range 

north. 

weat. 

58 

27 

i8 

27 

68 

27 

58 

27 

58 

27 

58 

28 

58 

28 

58 

28 

58 

28 

53 

28 

58 

28 

58 

28 

58 

28 

58 

28 

58 

28 

58 

20 

58 

28 

58 

28 

58 

28 

58 

28 

58 

28 

58 

28 

58 

29 

58 

28 

.58 

28 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

53 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

53 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

39 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

29 

58 

30 

58 

30 

58  * 

30 

58 

39 

58 

30 

58 

30 

58 

39 

I  a 


uptrior  land 

»?)f{  .'titj;it  inl', 


Range 
weat. 


28 
28 
28 
98 
38 
28 
28 
28 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
S9 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
39 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
39 
39 
39 
39 
39 
30 
30 
30 
39 
30 
30 
3» 


Ooc.  No.  69.  df 

List  of  tho  mineral  lands  of  Keioeenaw  Point — Continued. 


Section. 


13 
14 

15 

16 
17 
18 
lit 
30 
25 
26 
2T 
28 
29 
31 
33 
33 
34 
35 
36 
4 
5 
6 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
19 
20 
SI 
23 
23 
34 
28 
39 
30 
31 
36 
1 
2 
3 
4 
8 
9 
10 
11 
25 
35 
36 
1 
3 
3 
10 
11 
15 
16 
31 
33 
26 
37 
28 


tii'%' 


Part. 


N.i.. 

N.i.. 

All... 

All... 

All... 

All... 

N.i.. 

NW. 

All... 

S.i.. 

S.i.. 

S  J.. 

SKi. 

All..., 

All..., 

All..., 

All.... 

N.i. 

N, 


4: 


N 

N.  i  and  SW.  i 

All 

SE.  J 

Si 

All 

All 

S, 


i 


S.  i  and  NE.  i. 

All 

All 

All 

All 

All 


NW-i 

W.  i  and  NE.  J. 
All 


NW.  4 

S.i 


N.  iandSW.l. 
E.  J  and  SW.  {. 
Si 


ii. 


NE.1 

N.i 

N.i 

NW.l 

S.  i  and  NE.  {  . 
8.  i  and  NE.  i  . 

All 

N.i.   

All 

S.  i  and  NE.  i  . 

All 

W.  i 

W.  i 

SE.J 

All 

Si 

W.  i 

All 

N.  i  and  SW.  J. 


Townihip 

Range 

north. 

weiU 

58 

30 

58 

3Q; 

58 

30 

58 

30 

58 

30 

58 

30 

58 

30. 

58 

30 

58 

30 

5d 

30 

58 

30 

58 

30 

58 

3ft 

58 

m 

53 

39l 

58 

^ 

58 

». 

58 

30 

58 

30 

57 

30! 

'57 

30[ 

57 

30.; 

58 

31 

58 

31 

58 

31 

58 

31 

58 

31 

58 

31. 

.  58 

31- 

58 

31i 

58 

31) 

58 

31 

58 

31 

58 

31 

58 

31 

58 

31 

58 

31 

58 

31 

57 

31 

W 

31 

57 

31 

57 

31 

57 

31 

57 

31 

57 

31  .i 

57 

31 

58 

33 

58 

33 

58 

32  ' 

57 

33  i 

57 

33 

57 

32 

57 

32   - 

57 

33 

57 

33 

57 

32 

57 

33 

57 

33 

57 

32 

57 

33 

57 

32 

M  Doc.  No.  69. 

List  of  the  mineral  lanis  of  Keeweenaw  Point — Continued. 


Seetr  n. 


31 
33 
33 
34 

35 
36 

4 
S 
6 

a 

8 
17 
18 
19 
90 
30 

9 

3 
10 
11 
95 
35 
36 

1 

a 

3 
10 

11 

15 
16 
90 
99 
30 
9d 
94 
95 
96 
97 
35 


.;()T(On 


Fart. 


E.| 

E.  i  and  SW.  i. 
W.J 


E.  laadSW. }., 
W.  I  and  NE..  i. 
S.  landNE.  i.., 
SW.i , 


W.i. 

S.  iandMW.  i. 
E.  1. 


N.  landSE.  I.. 
N.  k  and  SW.  i. 

W.J 

E.J 

All 

W.J 

W.J /.. 

W.J.. 

SE.  J. 


SW.andNE.  i. 

N.J  

SE  J 


SE.  {.. 

All 

NW.J. 

S.  i  and  NE.  \. 

SE. 


i. 


S.  JshdNE.  { 

NW.  J.. 

NW.l 

All 


S.  JandNE.). 
NW.J 

N.J. 
SE. 


i- 


N.  i  and  SW.  J. 
N.  J  and  SW.  i- 

All.. 

SE.i 

SE.i 

Si 


Township 

Ranga 

north. 

west. 

57 

33 

57 

33 

57 

33 

57 

33 

57 

33 

57 

33 

57 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

56 

33 

55 

33 

55 

33 

55 

33 

55 

33 

55 

33 

55 

33 

55 

33 

55 

33 

55 

33 

55 

33 

55 

34 

55 

34 

55 

34 

55 

34 

55 

34 

55 

34 

55 

34 

lAst  of  the  mineral  lands  in  t/ie  region  between  Portage  lake  and  the  Mon- 
treal river. 


iiK 


«'4 


Section. 


'■I 


'°i',? 


:  :i 


S5 
35 
36 
1 
3 
10 
11 
15 


Part. 


SE.J 

E.  I  and  SW.  \ . 

All 

NW.J 

N.  }  and  SW.  J. 
E.  4  and  SW.  J . 
W   ' 
N.'i'and  "s  W.'  C 


Township 

Range 

north. 

west. 

53 

37 

53 

37 

53 

37 

51 

37 

51 

37 

51 

37 

51 

37 

51 

37 

tued. 


up 


Range 
west.  ■ 


Doc.  No.  69. 


95 


32 

33 

32 

33 

32 

33 

33 

32 

32 

33 

39 

39 

39 

32 

32 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 


lAst  mineral  lands  between  Portage  lake  and  Montreal  river — Continued. 


vnd  the  Mon- 


hip 

Range 

h. 

west. 

37 

37 

37 

37 

37 

37 

37 

37 

Section. 


Part. 


16 
21 
33 
29 
30 
31 
32 
25 
2fi 
34 
35 
36 
6 
7 
1 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

21 

22 

29 

.30 

31 

32 

25 

33 

34 

35 

36 

4 

5 

« 

7 

1 

2 

3 

10 

11 

i3 


S.     .... 

All , 

NW.  i. 
SW.  {.. 


S.J 

N.  i ,.. 

NW.i 

W.  i  and  SE.  i. 
N.i. 


E.  i  and  SW.  i- 

All 

N.  i  and  SW  |. 
N.  i  and  HW.  J. 
NW.  J......... 

SE.I 

Si 

?:i 


N.  i  and  SW.  J. 

NW.J 

N.  i  and  SW.  i. 
All 


E.    

NE.i 

NW.  J 

All 

All.... 

N.i 

NW.t 

Si 

Si 

Si 

N.I 

All 

N-i 

All 

All 

N.i 

E.  iandSW.  i. 

S-i 

SB.  i 

NE.i 

N.i 

N.i 


Township 

Range 

north. 

weal. 

51 

37 

51 

37 

51 

37 

51 

37 

51 

37 

51 

37 

51 

37 

SI 

38 

51 

36 

51 

38 

51 

-38 

51 

38 

50 

38 

50 

38 

50 

39 

50 

39 

50 

39 

50 

39      • 

50 

39 

50 

39 

50 

39 

50 

39 

50 

39 

50 

39 

50 

39 

50 

39 

50 

39 

50 

39 

50 

40 

50 

40 

50 

40 

50 

40 

50 

40 

49 

40 

49 

40 

49 

40 

49 

40 

49 

41 

49 

41 

49 

41 

49 

41 

49 

41 

49 

41 

List  of  the  mineral  lands  of  Isle  Royale,  Lake  Superior  land  district. 


Section. 
/ 

i"     ■■              Part.         

Townahip 
north. 

Range 
weat. 

3 

N.  1 

67 
67 
67 
67 
67 
67 
67 
67 
67 
67 

32 

4 

21 

SE.  *  

33 
33 

22 

SW.  i 

33 

23 

S.  J ; , 

33 

24 

N.  iandSW.  1 

33 

26 

N.  I 

-    83 

27 

All. 

39 

28 

All 

33 

31 

AH 

33 

m 


Dw,  No.  6^v 


•ti 


«4     !| 


11-.. ;i;;, 

List  of  the  mineral  lands  of  Isle  lioyale — Continued. 

.,*•..     -uj 

Section. 

Paru 

Township 
north. 

Range 
west. 

32 

All 

67 
67 
67 
67 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
67 
67 
67 
.     67 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
«6 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
65 
65 
65 
65 
65 
65 
65 
65 
65 
63 
65 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 
6G 

33 

33 

All 

33 

34 

All 

33 

35 
3 

N^ 

NW.  i , 

33 
33 

4 

N.  iandSW.  i '. 

33 

5 

All 

33 

6 

All 

33 

7 

Ail 

33 

8 

N.  J 

33 

18 

NW.  4 

33 

33 

SW.  i 

34 

34 

E.  t  andSW.  1 

34 

35 

SW.  i 

34 

36 

SE.  i ... 

34 

1 

AH 

34 

3 

All 

34 

3 

3.  ^ 

34 

4 

34 

5 

NE.  and  S W.  quarters , .  • 

34 

8 

AH 

34 

9 

34 

10 

All •••• 

34 

11 

SE.  1 

34 

13 

N.  iandSW.l 

34 

13 

All., 

34 

14 

N W.  and  SE.  quarters 

34 

15 

S.  i  and  NE.  i 

34 

16 

34 

17 

34 

18 

34 

20 

34 

21 

34 

22 

31 

23 

W.  I  and  UE.  i 

34 

24 

NW.  1 

34 

26 

All 

34 

27 

S.  i 

34 

28 

AH 

34 

29 

N.  JandSE.  i  ...., 

34 

30 

S  iand  NE.  i 

34 

31 

NE.  and  SW.  auarters ..•••• 

34 

33 

E.J 

34 

34 

N.  i  and  SE.  1 

34 

35 

All 

34 

3 
3 

W.  iandNE.  i 

34 
34 

7 

SE.  i  

34 

8 

34 

9 

All 

34 

10 

N.  iandSW.  i 

34 

16 

NW.  1 

34 

17 

All..... 

34 

18 

All 

34 

19 

N.  i  andSW.  1 

34 

20 

NW.  i    , 

34 

13 

35 

32 

S.  i 

35 

33 

Ai^;::::::::::::::!:;"!"*:""::"!"::""."!.. 

35 

24 
35 
36 

N.JlandSW.  { 

NW.  J 

35 
33 
35 

.    I. 
MS 

■  HC- 

II. 


♦^ 
w 


^^,J)oc.  No.  69.  K97 


Range 

west. 


33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

33 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

31 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

35 

35 

35 

35 

35 

35 


LiBt  of  the  mineral  hnefs  of  hie  Royale — Continued. 


»* 
« 


All 

All 

SE.  4 

E.iandSW 

N.} 

E.  iand^Vir.  | 

SE  1 

E.  \  and  SW.  { 

All 

All 

All 

E.  iandSW.  i 

N.J 

E.  iandSW.  i , 

S.  landNW.  i 

All 

All ...  . 

S.  JandNW.  i 

S.  iandNW.  \ 

N.  landSE.  i 

N.i 

NW.  J 

All 

NE.  and  SW.  quarters, 

All 

NE.  J 

NW.J..... 

SE.| 

N.i 

S.  AandNE.  4 

All 

s.i • 

8.  landME.  1 

All 

All 

N.  iandSW.  i 

Si 

Si 

All 

All 

N.  iiandSE.  \.. ...... 

All 

NW.  and  SE.qaarters 

NE.i 

N.  iandSW.  1 

SE.  J ..;.. 

All ;,... 

All 

S.  i  and  NE.i 

All 


Nw! 


i- 


SB.  i. 

NW.  \ 

NE.  and  S W.  quarters. 

SE.  i... 

N.  iandSW.  i 

NW.i 

S.i 

All 

NW.i 

N.  iandSW.  1 


nubip 

Range 

orth. 

weeu 

66 

35 

66 

95 

68 

35 

66 

35 

66 

35 

66 

35 

66 

35 

66 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

66 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

66 

35 

66 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

66 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

35 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

66 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65  ' 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

65 

36 

6S 

36 

64 

36 

a9 


If.'  \i 


1 1 
1 


t    i 


^^^W  '1 

i 

Um. 

^1w' 


■■'ttd^'W'89."* 


.•.VA.**^' 


\  ^  '>    f   I 


Section. 


0»;  4 

2e  7 

f,C  8 

*«  9 

tr.  18 

<y.  23 

''";  24 

•;  26 

06  27 

:,r.  28 

2r  31 

fc^;  32 

vC  33 

Z-  34 

ee  36 

2r    I 


if. 


(it 


4 
5 
6 
8 
9 


cC.    10 

er.  17 

ge  18 

19 

20 
1 

2 
10 
,■■?,  11 
ec    14 

ii:  15 
16 
17 

;:<;  19 
^Z    20 

r>{;  21 
n  23 

a*;  25 

■^n  26 
8!*    27 

m  28 
as  30 

DC  31 

?!v  32 

d^  34 

e£  35 

5f:     6 

Sfi  24 
U  25 
»f.     26 

:<(!.  35 
!^:    36 


1 

2 

9 

10 

11 


Z,Mf  of  the  minerul  lands  of  Itle  Rot  ale — Continuod. 


Part. 


i- 


S£ 

S.  i  and  HE.  i. 

NW.i 

N.J 

SE.i , 

ME.  and  SW.  quarters.. 

N.  i :, 

8.  JandNW.  i 

NE.  andSW.  quarters.. 

8E  i 

BE.i 

ME.  and  SW.  quarters. 

S.  JandNW.  4 

M.  iandSW.  i....... 

SE.  i 

SW.  i 

S.l 


NW.' 


SE.  ^ 

S.  i  and  MC.  1. 

N.  ' 


i- 


N.  iandSW.  i- 
S.  landNE.  i.. 
N.  iandSE.  i-. 

w.y 

All. 


SE.i. 

S.  i  and  NE.  {. 

N. 


.i- 


NW.  {.. 

NE.  and  SW.  quarters. 

N.  iandSE.  i 

S.i 


S.  iandNE.  i. 
All 


NW.  and  SE  quarters., 
SE.  and  NW.  qusrtcra. 
S-i 


8.  ^  and  NE. 

S.  k  and  NE.  i 
N. 


i. 


8.  ianoNE.  {.. 
S.  I  and  N  .V.  {. 

SE.i 

N.  tandSW.l. 

NE.  i 

NW.i 

NW.  I 

SE.  i 

8.  4andNE.  i.. 
SE.  i 

E-  i 

All 

N.i 

N  4 

SW.  }  

All 

SW.  J 


Township 
north. 


S4 

64 
64 
64 
64 
65 
65 
66 
65 
65 
65 
65 
65 
65 
65 
65 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
6t 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
C4 
64 
64 
64 
64 
63 
64 
64 
64 
64 
64 
.63 
63 
63 
63 
63 


Rang* 


36 

3ft 
3(> 
36 
36 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
'37 
37 
•ST 
37 
37 
37 
37 
.3T 
37 
38- 
38^ 
3& 
3* 
38 
3» 
3» 
3i* 
38 
3» 
38 
38 
38 
38 
38 
38 
3H 
38 
38 
38- 
38 
3» 
38 
3» 
•S9 
31> 

m 

39 

39 
3*» 
3«J 
39 
39 


.f>P«9,->N.«<i,f^- 


on 


^ 


36 

3(> 
36 
36 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
37 
'37 
37 

V  H 
I  «^ 

,  3T 


37 

37 
37 
3» 
38 
3* 
3» 
38 
3» 
3» 
3» 
36 
3» 
38 
38 
38 
38 
38 
38 
38 
38 
39 
38- 
38 
3» 
3fr 
3*» 
3» 
3» 
3ft 
39 
1    3a 
3t» 
1   39 
1   3» 
39 


CBTAPTER  IV.  ^  uo  nsH/n  tWKirmn  ^(it 


U  ;^t     r.    ,  •  STRATIFIED   AND   8ED1MENTART   ROCKP.  f  WOlDhBViOII 


;U 


'fti 

^,^Jplass%Jicationof  the  sedimentary  rocks. — Conglfm„erate. — Extvrnetl  charac- 
'l„^^  ters. — Imbedded  fragments  of  a  jaspery  rock. — Range  and  extent. — 
i.  Keweenaw  Point  —  Veim. — Attempts  at  mining. — Poreupim  mouut- 
,  'f|!^  ains, — Montreal  river. — Section  of  t/te  rocks. — Mining  in  Oottghtne- 
.y,\^  rate. — Divisional  planes. — Sandstone. — Range  and  extent. — Com- 
'  ,  pact  or  lower  ma^nesian  limesione. — Range  and  cvtent. — Orsranie 
rematns. — Hesumc.  -  .      >     ;,,     ..,,. 

Having  attempted,  with  some  degree  of  rmnuteness,  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  to  set  forih  the  boundaries,  range,  extent,  and  pecnh'arities  of 
the  igneous  rocks  of  the  copper  region,  it  now  recnains  to  describe  the  as- 
sociated sedimentary  rocks,  which  may  be  regarded  as  nearly  contempo- 
^ijraiieous. 

These  may  be  comprised  under  three  divisions,  to  which  are  appended 
the  equivalents  in  the  New  York  classification:       i  >t!  '^ym  fjua  ,'}>f»T?< 

I.  Conglomerate. — Not  strictly  a  sedimentary  rock,  but  a  volcanic  tuff. 
:.''    II.  Inferior  sandstone. — Potsdam  sandstone. 
.  III.   Compact  or  lower  magnesian  limestone. — Calcifejco.us  sapds^one, 
Chazy  limestone,  Uird's-eye  and  Black  river  limestone.     ,^  .!^,! /i>  .^n 

■■.,X«  Conglomerate — external  c/uiracters. — The  conglomerate  of  Kewee- 
naw Point  and  Isle  Royale  consists  of  rounded  pebbles  of  trap,  almost 
invariably  of  the  variety  known  as  amygdaloid,  derived  probably  from  the 
contemporaneous  lavas,  and  rounded  fragments  of  a  jaspery  rock  which 
may  have  been  a  metamorphosed  sandstone,  the  whole  cemented  by  a 
dark-red  iron  sand.  This  cement  maybe  regarded  -a  a  mixture  of  vol- 
canic ash  and  arenaceous  particles,  the  latter  haviij^  ;;oen  derived  from 
the  sandstone  then  in  the  progress  of  accumulation.  l.t  is  not  unusual 
to  meet  with  strata  composed  entirely  of  arenaceous  particles  associated 
with  the  conglomerate  beds;  and  where  these  expand  to  a  considerable 
thickness,  the  associated  sandstone  appears  in  alternating  bands  of 
white  and  red,  and  exhilj;ts  few  traces  of  metamorphism;  but  where  the 
belts  of  sedimentary  rock  are  thin,  and  come  in  contact  with  the  trappean 
rocks,  the  sandstone  is  converted  into  a  jaspery  rock,  traversed  by  divi- 
sional planes,  and  breaking  with  a  conchoidal  fracture 

The  trappean  pebbles  oilen  attain  a  magnitude  of  eighteen  inches  in 
diameter.  Their  surfaces  do  not  present  that  smooth,  polisheed  appearance 
which  results  from  the  attrition  of  water;  in  fact,  a  close  observer  can 
readily  distinguish  between  those  which  have  been  recerrtly  detatched 
from  the  rock  and  those  which  have  been  for  a  time  exposed  to  the  recent 
action  of  the  surf. 

The  conglomerate  appears  to  have  been  formed  too  rapidly  to  suppose 
that  the  masses  were  detached  and  rounded  by  the  action  of  waves  and 
currents,  and  deposited  with  silt  and  sand  on  the  floor  of  the  ancient 
ocean;  for,  while  the  contemporaneous  sandstone  remote  from  the  line  ol 


i  I 


§3'[: 


'§ 


W 


;1 


0' 


'\ 


00 


•%oc.  No.  69. 


I' 


b9 


.«  V 

*«? 

nr. 

ill)  i 

i,.,. 
Irr: 


volcanic  foci  does  not  exceed  three  hnndred  or  four  hundred  feet  In  thick 
ness,  the  united  thickness  of  the  congloniernte  bands  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  trappean  range  on  Keweeimw  Point  exceeds  five  thousand  feet.  Ab 
we  recede  for  a  few  miles  from  ihu  luje  of  the  volcanic  fissure,  theso 
amygdaloid  pebbles  disappear, and  ave  replaced  by  arenaceous  and  argilla- 
ceous particles.  We  are,  therefore,  disposed  to  aiiopt  the  theory, as  to  the 
origin  of  such  masses,  first  suggested  by  Von  Buch:*  "When  basaltic 
islands  and  trachytic  rocks  rise  on  fissures,  friction  of  the  elevated  rock 
against  the  walls  of  the  fissures  causes  the  elevated  rock  to  be  enclosed 
by  conglomerates  composed  of  its  own  matter.  The  granules  compo- 
sing the  sandstones  of  many  formations  have  been  separated  ratlier  by 
friction  against  the  erupted  volcanic  rock  than  destroyed  by  the  erosive 
force  of  a  neighboring  sea.  The  existence  of  these  friction  conglomerates, 
which  are  met  with  in  enormous  masses  in  both  hemispheres,  testifies 
the  intensity  of  the  force  with  which  the  erupted  rocks  have  been  pro- 
pelled from  the  interior  through  the  earth's  crust.  The  detritus  has  sud- 
denly  been  taken  up  by  the  waters,  which  have  then  deposited  it  in  the 
strata  which  it  still  covers." 

Those  pebbles  having  a  highly  vesicular  structure  may  have  been 
■ejected  through  the  fissures,  ni  the  form  of  scoriaj,  while  in  a  plastic 
state,  and  have  received  their  rounded  shape  from  having  been  projected 
through  water — on  the  same  principle  as  melted  lead,  when  dropped  from 
an  elevation,  assumes  a  globular  form.f 

In  the  jaspery  fragments  included  in  the  conglomerate,  we  often  observe 
a  structure  analogous  to  the  woody  fibre  of  trees.  Those  fragments  (plate, 
fig.  2)  are  composed  of  laminte,  more  or  less  contorted,  and  furrowed  longi- 
tudinally, like  the  markings  in  the  extinct  plants  of  the  genus  sigillaria.  A 
.series  of  strite,  as  fine  as  the  engraver's  lines,  run  parallel  with  ihe'larger 
ones.  Theso  can  be  traced  on  isome  of  the  specimens,  and  generally 
■extend  through  the  different  folds;  while  others  po.sscss  a  structure  like 
the  ceiiular  tissue  of  wood.  We  havo  no  confidoncc  in  the  vegetable 
-origin  of  these  markings;  nor  have  we  any  theoiy  to  offer  in  explanation. 
■  While  there  are  no  beds  of  calcareous  rocks  associated  with  this  group, 
•we.  have  evidence  that  the  waters  during  this  epoch  were  abundantly 
'Charged  with  lime;  for  we  find  this  substance,  in  the  form  of  calc-spar,  fill- 
ing the  vesicles  of  the  amygdaloid  and  tlie  fissures  and  pores  in  the  con- 
.glomerate.  It  did  not  result  from  deposition,  but  appears  to  have  been 
forced  into  the  interstices  while  in  a  heated  condition,  and  perhaps  in  a 
4State  of  gaseous  sublimation.  * 

We  know  that  modern  volcanoes  evolve  vast  quantities  of  gases  which 
•are  capable  of  dissolving  vari  us  earthy  substances;  and  is  it  not  reason- 
able to  suppose  that  the  same  phenomena  were  exhibited  in  the  early 
history  of  our  planet,  and  on  a  grander  scale,  when  the  conimunications 
Avith  the  interior  were  more  numerous  and  extended,  and  when  the  rdcur- 
«nce  of  earthqualie  shocks  and  volcanic  eruptions  was  mpre  frequent 


'(     ."    Jv  J'lX 


I  ,:n.  i! 


*GcognoBt.  Briefe,  8.  75—83. 

^The  extinct  volr.aTioea  of  Auvergne  afford  numerous  Bpecimons  cf  volcanic  hombt,  which  ap- 
pear to  have  been  ejected  in  a  soft  state,  and,  on  cooling  in  ti)e  air,  assunned  the  form  of  drops  or 

eloi'gated  spheroids.  ,:       .     -;;„;   . -x,   i  im.j   -h.w  ffj^i-nu;''!.  «  4<kifl 


1  Of!; 
■VI  -jii;  in,;:!  ON-      ,,  -^^oj,. 


Jtf;; 


gj*  i  j-i   Ci 


nAi   Hi    I,    VH   .  ii 


tht 


thick 
iiity  of 
t.    Aa 
,  tVieso 
irgilla- 

to  the 
jasaltic 
jd  Tock 
iclosed 
com  po- 
ther by 

erosive 
[lerfttes, 
testifies 
een  pro- 
las  Hud- 
t  in  the 

vc  been 
a  plastic 
projected 
ped  from 

[1  observe 
its  (plate, 
red  longi- 
laria.   A 
he  larger 
generally 
ture  like 
,'egetablc 
)lanation . 
lis  group, 
mndantly 
-spar,  fill- 
the  con- 
lave  been 
[haps  in  a 

^es  which 

)t  reason- 

the  early 

inications 

3  r€!cur- 

I  frequent 


D<^,,  iN'cu  6p, 


'% 


f 


^«,  which  ap- 
,  of  drops  01- 


We  ouglit,  therefore,  a  priori,  to  expect  to  find  the  products  of  these  gaaoous 
emanations  in  tlie  vicinity  of  the  volcanic  foci. 

liatige   and   extent — minviid  contents. — In   describing   the   trap|)ear»  '. 
rocks,  we  necessarily  spoke'of  the  associated  bands  of  congloniernto,  ond 
the  iuduence  they  exerted  ou  tiie  productiveness  o/  veins.     We  deem  it 
unnecessary  to  enumerate  ail^of  the  bands,  inasmuch  as  thoy  are  indicated 
on  the  accompanying  maps.  'i;  u;   »*<(■>•);  •'^t   n.  ^ 

They  are  ieniiforra  jnassos,  variable  in  number  and  thickness.  On 
Keweenaw  Ppint  they  are  numerous,  and  nossess  much  regularity,  ran- 
giiig  with  tlie  trap,  and  dipping  to  the  N.  anu  NW.  at  angles  varying  from 
20*  to  50°.  In  the  Ontonagmi  district  they  are  less  numerous,  but  near 
the  Montreal  river  they  expand  to  an  enormous  thickness. 

Ou  Isle  Royale  they  occur  under  similar  conditions  with  those  observed 
on  Keweenaw  Point,  with  this  exception,  that  the  dip  is  reversed — vary*  • 
inff  from  20"  to  40^  to  the  SE.  and  SSE.  - 

Manitpu  island  is  composed  of  conglomerate,  except  a  few  jutting  points 
on  the  sicmthern  coast,  which  belong  to  the  northern  band  of  trap.  Cross* 
ing  the  channel,  which  is  about  three  miles  in  width,  we  meet  with  this 
belt  on  the  northeastern  extremity  of  Keweenaw  Point,  and  thence  it  is 

S>rotracted  west  for  about  sixteen  miles,  when  it  becomes  lost  in  the  lake. 
*^or  a  greater  portion  of  this  distance  it  serves  as  a  sea-wall;  but  in  a  fev 
E laces  the  water  has  broken  through  and  excavated  long  and  narrow 
arbors  in  the  more  yielding  trap.  The  amiended  sketch  of  Horse- 
shoe Harbor  will  serve  to  convey  an  idea  of  the  appearance  of  this  rock. 
It  occurs  in  long  lines,  with  rounded  contours,  and  is  traversed  by  heavy 
fissures, filled  with  calc- spar.  '"!'  '  ""  -  '--i- ■'"■•''-"■«  v"  ««u.v/i.j, 
A  short  distance  west  of  Horse-shoe  Harbor  a  spar  vein  intersects  th« 
shore,  which  in  places  is  nine  feet  iti  width,  and  bears  N.  5°  E.  It  affords 
an  excellent  material  for  lime,  and  has  been  calcined  for  that  purpose.  On 
this  a  shafl  was  sunk  near  the  junction  of  the  trap  and  conglomerate,  but 
no  indiuations  of  copper  were  disclosed. 

On  Hays's  Point  another  spar  vein,  four  feet  in  thickness,  and  bearing 
N.  9°  E.,  is  seen.  The  matrix  is  more  or  less  colored  with  green  and 
blue  silicate  of  copper,  forming  the  "green  rock*'  of  the  old  voyageurs. 
Several  shaAs  were  sunk  upon  it  in  the  early  days  of  copper-mining,  but 
the  ore  was  too  meagre  to  be  profitable.  This  vein  undoubtedly  extends 
throuj^i  the  intervening  tmp,  and  is  developed  in  the  second  belt  of  con- 
glo^nerate  near  Fort  Villans,  forming  what  is  known  as  the  Black  Oxide 

The  junction  between  the  trap  and  conglomerate  is  welt  displayed  ih 
the  vicinity  of  Copper  Harbor.  The  rocks  bear  nearly  due  west,  with  a 
northerly  dip  of  35".  The  trap  on  the  upper  surface  •resembles  pumice, 
the  vesicles  frequently  empty,  but  oftener  filled  with  calc-spar,  agates^  • 
chlorite,  d^c.  Other  portions  are  wrinkled,  as  though  arrested  while  flow> 
ing.  The  lower  portion  of  the  conglomerate  does  not  exhibit  a  clear  and 
well-defiiled  line  of  demarcation,  but  encbses  angular  masses  of  amygda- 
loid, as  though  the  materials  had  been  thrown  down  while  the  trap  was 
in  a  viscid  state.  This  appearance  was  particularly  noticed  a  few  hun- 
dred yards  above  Porter  s  island*  where  the  pebbles,  for  the  distance  of 
twenty  feet  perpendicular,  are  enclosed  in  a  scoriaceous  mass. 

Between  Copper  Harbor  and  Agate  Harbor  numerous  veins,  cutting 
the  formation  at  nearly  right  angleS)  are  observed.    The  matrix  for  thV 


I 


M 

1 

ft  ;i!i 

1 

1 

1 

■     ■■', 

'i'l 

' 

';.^ 

' :( 

-1 

S     ;  i 

1 

!      * 


102 


Doc.  No.  69 


.<1 


most  part  consists  of  calc-spar,  but  occasionally  sulphate  of  baryta  is  * 
present.     Many  of  them  have  been  explored,  and  from  one,  on  the  south-  '^ 
west  quarter  oi  section  28,  township  59.  range  29,  a  mass  of  native  cojp>  ^ 
per  weighing  about  GOO  lbs.  was  taken.  f    "/  '', '  '    '!' 

At  Agate  Harbor  the  ISew  York  and  Lake  Superior  Compatiysfttik  two^*^ 
shafts  to  the  respective  depths  of  70  and  %*feet,  and  nearly  completed  ' 
the  communication  between  th«m  by  a  gallery.  The  matrix  of  the  vein  '^ 
consisted  of  calc  spar  and  sulphate  of  baryta,  with  black  sulphuret  of  • 
copper,  but  not  in  sufficient  abundance  to  authorize  further  operations.     '*■ 

This  belt  forms  the  outer  reef  at  Agate  Harbor,  and  does  not  again  ' 
approach  the  shore. 

Another  belt  of  conglomerate  starts  from  the  extreniity  of  Keweenaw*^' 
Point,  opposite  Manitou  island,  and  conforms  in  direction  to  the  one  last 
described,  from  which  it  is  separated  by  a  sheet  of  igneous  rock  about  ' 
1,800  feet  in  thickness.    This  is  known  as  the  main  conglomerate  raitge.  ' 
In  places  it  rises  to  the  height  of  650  feet,  and  expands  to  a  thicktiess  of 
4,000  feet^    The  culminating  points  in  ihe  range  are  back  of  Ho!fte-shoe  ! 
Harbor  and  Grand  Marais.     It  intersects  the  coast  at  Sand  bay, and  pre-  ", 
scribes  its  form  as  far  as  the  Lake-shore  location,  section  33,  township 68,  ' 
range  32,  when  it  bends  inland  and  is  prolonged  towards  Portage  lake] 
in  a  narrow  band,  which  is  obscurely  traced,     ft  does  not  differ  in  iithOr* 
logical  character  from  the  belt  previously  described.  ^'."  '••''^  '1 

The  appended  sketch,  taken  from  Fort  Wilkins,  looking  eastward,  will  ' 
convey  a  correct  idea  of  the  contour  of  the  hills.     The  gentle  slope 
iowards  the  lake  corresponds  very  nearly  with  the  line  of  inclination,  \ 
while  the  precipitous  escarpments  on  the  south  may  have  resulted  from 
powerful  Assures,  which  destroyed  the  continuity  of  the  strata. 

This  belt,  like  the  former  one,  contains  numerous  traces  of  copper. 
In  preparing  the  ground  where  Fort  Wilkins  now  stands,  the  soldiers 
came  across  numerous  boulders  of  black  oxide  of  copper,  varying  in 
weight  from  an  ounce  to  several  hiindred  pounds.  Subsequently  a  vein 
was  dicovered  a  few  rods  east  of  the  fort,  from  fifteen  to  twenty  inches  in 
width,  bearing  N.  7°  E.,  and  corresponding  very  nearly  in  direction  and 

E>sition  to  that  before  described  as  occurring  m  the  northern  belt  on ' 
ays's  Point.  The  gangue  consisted  of  calc-spar,  analcime,  laumonite, 
told  occasional  crystals  of  fluor-spar,  associated  with  which  were  the^een  ' 
and  blue  silicates  and  the  black  oxide  of  copper.  This  tract  had  been ' 
located  by  the  Pittsburg  and  Boston  Company,  and  was  the^r«^  location 
naade  after  the  extinguishment  of  the  Indian  title  in  1843.  They  may,' 
therefore,  be  regarded  as  the  pioneers  in  mining  enterprise. 

A  part  of  their  \pining  force  was  directied  to  the  exploration  of  this 
.Tein.  It  was  found,  near  the  surface,  to  consist  of  the  black  oxide  of 
copper  of  surpassing  richness,  yielding  from  60  to  70  per  cent.  Two 
shans  were  sunk  about  100  feet  apart,  and  the  black  oxide  found  in  both, ' 
but,  at  the  depth  of  fifteen  feet,  it  became  exhausted.  The  fisgure  and 
Teinstone  continued,  which  induced  the  company  to  prosecute  further 
workings,  in  the  hope  that  the  mineral  would  reappear.  Accordingly,  the 
main  shaft  WAS  extended  to  the  depth  of  120  feet,  and  levels  driven  in 
either  direction,  on  the  course  of  the  vein,  until  it  became  manifest  that  it 
was  unwise  to  proceed  further.*     The  aggregate  expenditures  at  this' 

•  Report  of  the  truBt«e«,  (1849.) 


Doc.  N<y69.^j 


lQ8j 


\l 


this 
ie  of 
Two 
)oth, 

and 
bther 

the 
m  in 
Ihatit 

this^ 


place  and  onHajs's  Point  were  $25,000.    The  nett  proceeds  of  the  cop- 
per raised,  S2,W8  70.    This  is  the  only  occurrence  of  these  varieties  of 
copper  ore  in  the  district.  , 

At  Eagle  Harbor  a  narrow  vein  of  black  sulphuret  of  copper  was  ex-  ' 
plored  to  some  extent.  ^^         ■     ;j.ti 

Thin  veins  of  this  ore  were  also  observed  on  the  Hitz  location;  a"  fttr' 
miles  above  the  mouth  of  Eagle  river,  by  the  lake  shore.  '''■ 

In  this  range  of  conglomerate,  a  few  rods  from  the  outlet  of  Man^nese 
lake,  (section  5,  towrisliip  68,  range  28,)  occurs  a  vein  of  black  oxide  of  ■ 
nianganese,  associated  with  calcspar.    The  vein  is  about  3  feet  wide  15  ' 
inches  of  which  is  occupied  by  the  ore.    It  is  so  highly  silicious  a^  to 
reo?/l""^l^°''?»:    The  inclination  of  the  strata  at  this  ^in? 
"25°  to  the  NW.,  which  corresponds  with  the  course  of  the  Vein 
The  following  secUon  represents  the  position  of  the  vein,  and  the  manner 

of  association.  The  shaded  portions  are  man- 
ganese; the  light,  calc  spar.  The  inclination  is 
so  great  that  it  soon  passes  beneath  the  surface. 
Between  Portage  lake  and  the  Ontanagon 
river,  the  conglomerate  does  not  expand  to 
the  enormous  thickness  observed  on  Ke- 
weenaw Point.  Limited  belts  are  occa- 
sionally seen,  but  cannot  be  traced  contin- 
uously for  any  considerable  distance.  We 
observed  quite  a  mass  flanking  the  trap  on  sec- 
,,.    ^  tion  14,  township  51,  range  38,  bearing  north 

78°7east,  and  dipping  north  60°.  A  belt,  which  continues  for  some 
miles,  is  observed  south  of  the  Algonquin  and  Douglass  Houghton  Com- 
pany's works,  and  another  occupies  the  northern  flank  of  the  trap  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Ontonagon  river,  and  can  be  traced  for  many  miles  on  either 
side.  Lenticular  beds  are  also  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the  trappean  rocks, 
some  of  which  attain  a  thickness  of  one  hundred  feet.  Examples  of  this 
kind  are  seen  at  the  Minnesota  works,  and  to  the  east  and  west  of  the 
river. 

At  the  base  of  the  Porcupine  mountains,  the  conglomerate  and  associ- 
ated sandstone  expand  to  a  great  thickness,  and,  in  the  character  of  the 
pebbles,  afford  evidence  of  having  been  made  up  of  the  ruins  of  the  ad- 
jacent igneous  rocks.  Numerous  intercalations  of  this  rock  are  observed 
in  the  trap,  differing  in  no  respects  from  those  described  as  occurring  on 
Keweenaw  Point. 

In  following  up  the  Presqu'isle  river,  the  black  slaty  sandstone  is  ob- 
served to  be  replaced  by  conglomerate,  expanding  to  a  thickness  of  several 
hundred  feet.  To  this  succeeds  the  bedded  trap,  followed  by  other  bands 
of  conglomerate. 

In  the  region  of  the  Montreal  river,  however,  the  conglomerate  expands 
to  a  great  width,  attaining  a  thickness  of  neady  2,000  feet.  The  boul- 
ders are,  in  some  cases,  fully  three  feet  in  diameter,  consisting  mostly  of 
porphyritic  trappean  rocks  and  hornblende,  cemented  by  a  calcareous  paste. 
This  conglomerate  bed  rises,  at  its  highest  point  636  feet. 

The  annexed  is  a  section  of  the  rocks  from  the  mouth  of  Montreal  river 
across  to  the  trappean  rocks,  a  distance  of  about  three  miles.  There  are 
several  alternations  here  of  amygdaloidal  trap  and  sandstone.    The  latter 


t 


h  -ill! 


'  IK 


if 


■■  f 


r.''"'i 


£ii! 


16^ 


.(>a 


Doc.  No.  69. 


(I 


is  generally  shaly,  and  soon  crumbles  by  the  influence  of  atmospheric  agen- 
cies. These  alternations  are  finely  exposed  in  the  bed  of  the  river,  which 
has  cut  a  deep  gorge  for  some  distance  nearly  parallel  with  the  course  of 
the  beds.  The  falls  of  this  river,  which  have  been  before  noticed,  axe 
caused  by  the  unequal  wearing  of  the  beds  of  trap  and  sandstone,  and 
are  highly  picturesque.  The  width  of  the  intercalated  beds  of  shaly 
sandstone  varies  from  fifteen  to  nearly  one  hundred  feet.  They  alternate 
with  beds  of  trap  of  nearly  equal  thickness.  The  depth  of  the  goigi» 
varies  firom  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet.       •„.  ;r  .fy<  ::iv,..a^.fn 

;  •   ;  .,..i^u...,: ' . ...      ..,  ,     ,   .   i:Ui  i  y  -■  ■  ■■'■   )i'':(iv/   ii-i  '/t  i;i:i! 


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An  atte] 
Itownship 
denhall  M 
were  exp( 
aban(lone( 
had  been 
were  filled 
may  be  ob 
creek,  whi 
phate  of  b 
variable  q 
sometimes 
getfeer 
n  width, 
tained.  1 
mixed  witl 
WTe  were  i 
inhere  the  < 
vith  a  g'rat 
leeding  so 
wuthof  th 
Bck.  Th( 
ifimperfec 

0  trace  the 
Joth  carbo 
irystallized 
iiderable  in 
calene  tria 
ocality  in 
gate  were  ■ 
lave  been  j 

The  min: 
urrence  of 
re  not  rehf 

We  have 
rap  and  coi 
lean  range, 
he  Bohemi 

1  thin  band 
erved,  whi 
nclination  ] 
rates,  lyinj 
gneous  pro 
iimulations 
linal  axis  \ 
emained  cc 

Divisiona 

ppUcable  t( 

l^nal  planes 

—jrmity,  gi\ 

ight  line; 

'  sudden  \\ 


Doc.  No.  69.  ^i 


107  1 


An  attempt  at  n'  g  was  made  in  the  conglomerate  on  section  18, 
township  50,  range  ,^  a  few  miles  west  of  the  Ontonagon,  by  the  Men- 
denhall  Mining  Company;  and  we  are  informed  that  not  less  than  $10,000 
were  expended  on  the  undertaking.  At  the  time  of  our  visit,  it  was 
abandoned.  Several  shafts,  one  of  which  reached  to  the  depth  of  1 00  feet, 
had  been  sunk,  and  galleries  run  from  one  to  the  other;  the  whole  of  which 
vere  filled  with  water.  The  bearing  of  the  vein  is  north  17°  Avest  and 
may  be  observed  cropping  out  in  the  bed  of  a  small  stream  called  Mineral 
creek,  which  crosses  the  location.  The  gangue  is  calcareous  spar  and  sul- 
phate of  baryta,  in  which  the  gray  sulphuret  of  copper  occurs  in  very 
variable  quantities,  intermixed  with  silica.  The  vein  varies  in  width; 
sometimes  it  is  split  into  numerous  threads,  and  again  it  disappears  alto- 
gether. Some  of  the  specimens  of  solid  ore  were  Irom  four  to  five  inches 
n  width,  and  we  were  informed  that  but  a  few  barrels  of  this  had  been  ob- 
tained. That  lying  about  the  shafts  was  very  meagre,  being  mostly  spar, 
nixed  with  conglomerate,  and  containing  a  small  per  centage  of  copper. 
UTe  were  informed  that  the  deepest  shaft  had  been  carried  down  below 
where  the  Ore  was  found  in  Die  vein.  Here  the  vein  pitched  to  the  west, 
vith  a  gradually  increased  angle,  and  was  underlaid  by  sandstone.  Pro- 
leeding  southwardly,  it  became  poorer,  and  the  shaft  sunk  a  few  rods 
outhof  the  main  one,  after  having  reached  a  few  feet,  was  in  barren 
ock.  The  veinstone  was,  at  this  point,  composed  of  a  curious  mixture 
)f  imperfect  agate  and  calc-spar,  in  alteied  sandstone.  Efforts  were  made 
0  trace  the  vein  into  the  trap,  which  is  contiguous,  but  without  success, 
loth  carbonate  of  lime  and  sulphate  of  baryta  are  here  found  in  finely 
irystallized  specimens.  The  former  occurs  m  hemitropic  crystals  of  con- 
iderable  interest  to  the  crystallographer.  They  are  a  combination  of  the 
icalene  triangular  dodecahedron,  of  a  form  hitherto  found  at  only  one 
ocality  in  Siberia;  also,  in  six-sided  prisms.  Some  of  the  varieties  of 
gate  were  very  beautiful,  and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  good  suites  could  not 
lave  been  secured  for  the  government  collection.  '/' 

The  mining  operations  here  have  thrown  considerable  light  on  the  o6- 
lurrence  of  copper  in  the  detrital  rocks,  and  demonstrated  that  these  veins 
ire  not  reliable  ones. 

We  have,  in  another  chapter,  described  the  numerous  alternations  of 
rap  and  conglomerate  which  occur  along  the  northern  slope  of  the  trap- 
lean  range.  Along  the  southern  slope  these  belts  are  very  rare.  Where 
he  Bohemian  range  breaks  through  the  incumbent  rocks  at  Lac  la  Belle, 

thin  band  of  conglomerate,  not  exceeding  30  feet  in  thickngss,  is  ob- 
erved,  which  has  been  traced,  at  intervals,  for  two  or  three  n.iles.  Its 
ticlination  is  80^  to  the  south  and  southeast.  Regarding  these  conglom- 
rates,  lying  north  of  the  anticlinal  axis,  as  composed,  in  the  itiain,  of 

neous  products,  and  the  sandstones,  on  the  south,  as  purely  detrital  ac- 
umulations,  we  are  led  to  infer  that,  while  the  region  north  of  the  anti- 
linal  axis  was  subject  to  a  series  of  volcanic  outbreaks,  that  to  the  south 
emained  comparatively  tranquil. 

Divisional  planes. — The  conglomerate  rocks — and  the  same  remarks  are 
pplicable  to  the  sandstones — are  traversed  by  different  systems  of  divis- 

nal  planes,  which  are  found  to  preserve  a  remarkable  degree  of  ujii- 

rmity,  giving  to  the  mass  a  crystalliform  appearance.  They  pursue 
traight  lines,  without  any  deviation,  and  extend  to  unknown  depths;  and 
0  sudden  was  the  shock  by  which  these  fissures  were  formed,  that  the 


108 


Doc-  No.  69r(| 


J'' 
wv 


\ 


intervening  pebbles  are  cut  in  twain.  The  main  fissures  pursue  a  cpurse 
varying  but  a  few  degrees  from  the  true  magnetic  meridian,  which  is 
found  to  be  the  case  in  other  countries.  The  rocks  traversed  by  these 
fissures  often  exhibit  not  only  a  vertical,  but  horizontal  dislocation.  To 
convey  an  idea  of  their  direction  and  uniformity,  we  submit  the  following 
observations  taken  with  great  care  by  Mr.  Hill; 


U 


l"if:.;f. 


MAIN  FISSURES, 


iH 


Commencing  at  the  western  extremity  of  the  point  north  of  Agate  Harbor, 

and  thence  running  east. 


;rU. 


Links. 


0.... 
30.... 

wd» • • • 
9«» • • • 

68« •• • 
bit • • • 
90.... 

182.... 

350.... 

300. . . . 

310.... 

430.... 

535.  .. 

720.... 

820. ... 

850.,.. 

975.... 
1233.... 
1275.. 
1380.. 
1500.. 
1550.. 
1610.. 
1650.. 
1750. . 


Course. 


North,  12  degrees  east. 
North,  10  degrees  east. 
Ndrih,  8  degrees  east. , 
North,  10  degrees  east., 
North,  10  degrees  east. , 
North,  13  degrees  east., 
North,  18  degrees  east.. 
North,  13  degrees  east., 
North,    8  degrees  east.. 

North 

North,   8  degrees  eait., 

North 

North 

Northeast 

North,  10  degrees  east.. 
North,    5  degrees  east. 

Northeast. 

North 

North,  13  degre«s  east. 
North,  30  degrees  east 

North , 

North,  10  degrees  west 

North 

North,  45  degrees  east. 
North 


Dip. 


East. 

East, 

East.        •         '■•i- 

EnsL  .  • 

East.  * 

East. 

-1-  \         . 

East  74  degrees. 

EasU 

East. 

East.         -^' 

East.  ::.//    -,:■ 

East. 

Southeast  45  degrees. 

East. 

4-  ,     . 

Kast. 

East  80  degrees.      ' 

East. 

East. 

Easu 

±         ':   „^;;;; 

Southeast.  < 

East. 


CROSS-PRACTURES. 


'                         Course. 

Dip.                    , 

East 

South  70  degrees. 
South  72  degrees. 
Soutk. 

1 

■ "  » 

East 

' 

South,  80  degrees  east. , 

South,  30  degrees  east. 
Soith,  20  d^rees  east. 

•    ■  '  f . 

N. 


frikl 


'•'lDdc  No.  69 


01109 


Near  Salmon  Trout  river,  the  sandstone  exhibited  several  sets  of  frac- 
tures—one set  bearing  north,  another  north  60°  east,  another  north  60° 
west,  and  another  north  40°  east.  Several  of  the  blocks  formed  by  the 
lines  of  division  yere  measured.  The  following  figures  represent  their 
forms: 


j./ti    ii  !,-,'iiJii.>|   -',-,(!,    u}.A-LHiil  l>u  u  ;   r(...J  i 


S.lOoW. 


,  f  > 


FiR.  14. 


S.  28°  W. 


\r 


■:l    >i 


S.  40°  W. 


^ 


laoo. 


60O. 


100°. 


80°. 


if 
S.  BOO  W 


95®. 


85°. 


m: 


At  Siskawit  bay,  Isle  Royale,  two  sets  of  fissures  were  observed  in  the 
sandstone — one  bearing  south  and  southeast,  the  other  south  40°  and  60° 
Avest. 

A  further  detail  of  observations  on  this  head  is  deemed  unnecessary,  as 
they  all  go  to  prove  the  general  principles  before  announced. 

Although  the  conglomerate  attains  a  thickness  of  five  thousand  feet,  yet  it 
by  no  means  follows  that  the  ancient  sea  in  which  it  was  deposited  extend- 
ed to  that  depth.  Ripple-marks  and  clay-cracks  have  been  observed  in  the 
upper  portions  of  this  group;  the  one  indicates  comparatively^  shoal  water,* 
and  the  other  the  ebbing  and  flowing  of  a  tide,  or  a  change  in  the  level 
of  the  water. 

The  inference,  therefore,  is,  that  during  the  deposition  of  the  conglom- 
erate, the  bed  of  the  sea  was  subject  to  repeated  elevations  and  depres- 
sions, caused  by  volcanic  action,  and  that  its  waters  obeyed  the  same* 
tidal  laws  which  govern  the  existing  oceans. 

These  conglomerates,  then,  may  be  regarded  as  local  deposites,  formed 
along  the  courses  of  the  volcanic  fissures  by  the  joint  agency  of  fire  and 
water.  When  the  former  causes  operated  with  intensity,  the  materials 
consisted  of  spherical  masses  of  lava  and  scoria?.  When  they  acted  feebly, 
or  were  quiescent,  the  materials  became  argillaceous  or  arenaceous. 

Sandstone. — It  is  not  our  purpose  in  this  report  to  set  forth  the  boun- 
daries of  the  sandstone,  much  less  to  describe  its  characters,  where  it 
comes  in  contact  with  the  pre-existing  rocks.  These  descriptions  will  be 
reserved  for  the  general  report  on  the  palajozoic  rocks  of  this  district.  We 
propose  simply,  at  this  time,  to  show  its  connexion  with  the  cupriferous 
rocks  before  described.  In  order  that  this  connexion  may  be  better  un- 
derstood, we  introduce  the  following  diagram: 

Fig.  15. 

Isle  Royale.  .  <<    ri'  Keweenaw  Folnt. 

Lake  Superior. 


a.  a  Crystalline  trap. 

b.  b.  Bedded  trap. 


e.  e.  Conglomerate. 
d.  d.  Sandstone. 


•Ue  la  Beche  states  that  the  surface-action  of  the  ocean  does  not  affect  the  Inittom  beyond 
the  depth  of  ninety  feet.  Divers  are  said  to  find  the  water  still  at  that  depth  during  a  toripest. 
Stevenson,  however,  asserts  that  the  agitations  of  the  sea  reach  to  the  depth  of  twj  hundred  feet. 


lUllO 


(i^Doc.  No.  69. 


'■'■>  Ml  < 


tM 


K  |^^« 


li;; 


We  have  seen  that,  during  the  deposition  of  the  sandstone,  nuiuerous 
'  sheets  of  trap  were  ejected,  and  flowed  like  Java- streams;  and  that  the 
igHcous  and  aqueous  products  were  so  intermingled  as  to  present  the  ap- 
pearance of  having  been  derived  from  a  common  origin;  and  that  subse 
quently  the  unbedded  trap  broke  through  these  parallel  fissures,  lifting  up 
the  sandstones,  conglomerates,  and  bedded  traps,  and  causing  the  whole 
mass  to  dip  at  high  angles.  Thus,  this  portion  of  the  bed  of  Lake  Su 
perior  is  due  to  these  two  lines  of  upheaval.  The  sandstone  between  the 
two  lines  performs  an  immense  curve,  portions  of  which  are  at  least 
800  feet  below  the  chord  lormed  by  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  sand- 
stone is  seen  on  Isle  Royale,  forming  the  outer  reefs  of  Siskawit  bay.  It 
is  of  a  dark -red  color,  somewhat  fissile,  and  traversed  by  numerous  divis- 
ional planes.  Thin  beds  of  conglomerate,  composed  of  trappean  pebbles, 
are  seen,  the  whole  dipping  to  the  southeast  about  8°.  This  is  not  a 
purely  silicious  rock,  but  takes  into  its  composition  argillaceous  particles 
with  an  admixture  of  oxide  of  iron.  Passing  over  to  the  southern  shore 
the  sandstone  is  first  seen  on  Keweenaw  Point,  in  low  reefs,  near  the 
Lake-shore  locatibn,  (section  1,  township  57,  range  33,)  beyond  which 
ponit,  proceeding  eastward,  it  is  succeeded  by  the  congloir?''rate,  which 
rests  beneath  it.  Proceeding  westerly,  the  trap  recedes  from  the  shore, 
and  the  intervening  space  is  occupied  by  the  sandstone,  forming  a  beh 
about  ten  miles  in  width. 

About  a  mile  above  the  Portage,  a  good  opportunity  is  afforded  for  ex 
amination.  Here  commence  a  series  of  bold  cliffs,  which  line  the  coast 
for  several  miles.  They  are  composed  of  strata  of  unequal  thickness 
and  induration.  Some  of  the  strata  consist  of  silex,  with  thin  plates oi 
mica  interspersed,  while  others  contain  portions  of  alumine,  colored  led 
by  oxide  of  iron.  The  silicious  strata  afibrd  excellent  building  materi 
als,  and  the  supply  is  inexhaustible.  Slabs  vaiying  from  two  inches  to 
two  feet  in  thickness,  and  exposing  perfectly  level  surfaces  of  forty  or  fi 
superficial  feet,  can  readily  be  procured.  The  rock  is  sufficiently  indurateii 
to  give  it  strength,  and  is  litde  affected  by  atmospheric  agents.  The  watei 
is  of  sufficient  depth  to  permit  vessels  to  approach  within  a  few  rodso 
the  shore. 

The  unequal  resistance  which  the  strata  oppose  to  the  action  of  thi 
surf  has  caused  the  cliffs  to  assume  various  fantastic  shapes.  The  harder 
beds  project  like  cornices,  and  can  be  traced  almost  as  far  t"he  eye  can 
reach.  In  the  softer  materials,  the  waves  have  scooped  out  numeroui 
caverns,  resembling  gothic  doorways.  The  nearly  horizontal  stratifica' 
tion  of  the  rocks,  their  brick-red  color,  with  occasional  bands  of  a  lightet 
tint,  and  the  numerous  vertical  fissures  by  which  they  are  intersected, 
cause  them  to  resemble  immense  walls  of  masonry  piled  up  by  the  haaip 
of  man. 

These  cliffs  do  not  range  in  continuous  lines,  but  exhibit  numeroi 
projections  and  recessions.  Peaks  shoot  u[i  above  the  mass,  like  towers, 
connected  by  walls,  which  at  the  base  are  excavated  into  arches  and  gate 
ways.  The  whole  is  crowned  by  a  dense  mass  of  foliage  of  the  bircli,! 
the  mountain  ash,  the  fir,  and  the  spruce.  From  this  mass  issue  numer- 
ous fountains,  which  precipitate  themselves  for  fifty  or  sixty  feet  befoB 
they  mingle  with  the  lake.  These  cliffs  may  be  regarded  as  a  miniatiiBJ 
representation  of  the  Pictured  Rocks. 

As  we  recede  from  the  trap,  the  dip  of  the  sandstone  diminishes  rap-l 


<i 

<<  ■'■■•' 


lie,  iiuuierous 
and  that  the 
ireseiit  the  ap- 
d  that  subse 
ires,  lifting  up 
ling  the  whole 
I  of  Lake  Su- 
le  between  the 
li  are  at  least 
:.  The  sand- 
iawit  bay.  It 
irnerous  divis- 
ppean  pebbles, 
This  is  not  a 
eous  particles, 
outhern  shore, 
eefs,  near  the 
beyond  which 
n-^rate,  which 
am  the  shore, 
forming  a  belt 


(forded  for  ex jf 

line  the  coast 

jqual  thickness 

I  thin  plates  of 

e,  colored  red 

lilding  matd 

two  inches  to 

of  forty  or  fi  . 

;ntly  indurated 

ts.   The  watei 

a  few  rods  o 

action  of  the 
,  The  harder 
ur  the  eye  can 
out  nunaeroui 
ntal  stratifica' 
ds  of  a  iighta 
re  intersected, 

by  the  haul 

libit  numerous 
r,  like  towers 

hes  and  gate^ 
of  the  bircli 
s  issue  nunw 
xty  feet  befoie 
as  a  miniatuit 

iminishes  raf- 


.0;Doc.  No.  69. 


Ul 


idly,  aud,  at  the  distance  of  a  few  miles,  the  stratification  becomes  hori- 
zontal.   The  following  observations  are  adduced: 


Section  11 
"  33 
"  6 
"  29 
"       9 


Township  57 

57 

"         56 

"         34 

"        54 


Range  33  Bearing  N.  30°  E.  Dia  32° 

"      33  "        N.  15°  E.  "    520° 

"      33  ,  ■    "        N.  15°  E.  "    19° 

"33  '    "        N.  25°  E.  "    10° 

-     ««      34  A   '   •■     «'       NNE.  "      5° 


NNW. 
tt 


The  average  width  of  this  belt  from  this  last-mentioned  point  westward 
is  nearly  ten  miles,  and  continues  to  range  42,  where  it  is  intersected  by 
the  Porcupine  mountains.  Its  junction  with  the  trap  on  the  north  is 
rarely  seen,  in  consequence  of  the  drift  which  reposes  on  it.  It  nowhere 
rises  into  ridges,  but  slopes  gradually  from  the  trappean  chain,  and  appears 
to  have  remamed  undisturbed  since  the  upheaval  of  the  trap,  if  we  ex- 
cept that  general  elevatory  movement  by  which  the  whole  district  Has 
been  raised  above  the  ocean-level. 

By  the  lake  shore,  (section  33,  township  57,  range  33,)  a  singular  bed 
of  sandstone  is  exposed  for  a  distance  of  eighty  rods;  and  the  same  has 
been  recognised  inland.  It  is  composed  of  sub-crystalline  particles  of 
quartz  and  feldspar,  but  the  original  gratmlar  structure,  on  close  inspec- 
tion, can  be  recognised.  Itsl^earing  and  inclination  are  conformable  to  the 
adjacent  beds,  being  north  22.}°  east,  dip  2G°  north  northwest.  From 
the  Portage  to  the  Jtlontreal  river,  the  sandstone  is  exposed  along  the  lake 
shore  at  short  intervals.  The  further  it  is  observed  from  the  trappean 
rocks,  not  only  does  its  inclination  become  less,  but  the  strata  arc  less 
colored,  and  the  cohesion  between  the  particles  is  slighter. 

Between  Salmon  Trout  and  Misery  rivers  the  inclination  is  very  slight, 
not  exceeding  5°  to  the  northwest.  The  trap  range  between  these  twa 
rivers  is  about  six  miles  inland,  and  consists  of  low  dome-shaped  knobs. 
To  the  west  it  is  more  prominently  developed,  and  the  sandstone  in  the 
vicinity  acquires  a  sharper  dip,  which  gradually  increases  until,  at  the 
base  of  the  Porcupine  mountains,  where  the  trap  approaches  within  a 
mile  of  the  lake  shore,  rising  up  in  a  lofty  ridge  more  than  a  thousand 
feet  in  height,  the  sandstone  is  tilted  up  at  an  angle  of  30"  or  40^.  The 
intercalated  beds  in  this  vicinity  are  found  to  present  a  nearly  uniform 
dip,  showing  that  their  elevation  is  due  to  a  single  upheaval. 

At  Iron  river,  and  at  sevoral  other  points,  the  sandstone  is  very  fissile 
and  of  a  dark-brown  color,  resembling  a  slaty  rock.  This  rock  is  ob- 
served to  dip  in  a  direction  different  from  the  general  dip  of  the  sand- 
stone which  lines  the  coast.  This  diversity  nas  been  occasioned  by  the 
upl^eaval  of  the  Porcupine  mountains,  whose  prolongation  is  at  nearly 
right  angles  with  the  general  direction  of  the  trap  range.  The  bearing 
of  the  sandstone  exposed  in  the  bed  of  the  stream  varies  from  north 
and  south  to  north  40°  east  and  south  40*^  west. 

The  Presqu'isle  river,  a  short  distance^ove  its  mouth,  is  precipitated 
40  feet  over  the  dark-colored  slaty  sanostdne.  It  here  dips  10"  uorlh- 
Avardly,  ihe  bearing  being  south  61°  west.  About  one-half  of  a  mile 
from  its  junction  with  the  trap,  it  bears  north  8°  west,  and  dips  north- 
northwest  30°.  At  the  mouth  of  Black  river  the  same  form  of  sandstone 
appears,  and  may  be  regarded  as  an  accidental  variety  of  the  rock  which 
lines  nearly  the  entire  coast. 

Advancing  along  the  coast  towards  the  Montreal  river,  the  iriclina- 


Ii 


?    f    . 


n 


it2 


Doc.  No.  69. 


tion  of  thb  $andstDne  gradually  increases,  and  at  the  latter  p«int  it  is  ob- 
served in  a  nearly  verti&al  position.  It  is  here  about  two  miles  removad 
from  the  trap,  and  has  the  same  inclination  as  at  the  point  of  contact. 
These  dips  have  been  taken  on  the  northern  slope  of  the  trap  range  by 
the  lake  shore,  or  in  the  beds  of  streams  where  there  wa«  a  good  expo- 
sure of  the  rock.  South  of  the  trap  range,  the  sandstone  is  almost  in- 
variably horizontally  stratified,  except  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
trap,  where,  for  the  most  part,  it  dips  at  a  high  angle  to  the  sduth.  Judge 
Burt,  however,  found  the  sandstone  south  of  Porcupino  mountains  dip- 

Eing  to  the  north.  The  general  relations  of  the  sandstone  and  trap  will 
e  Detter  understood  by  referring  to  the  subjoined  section  from  Lake 
Superior,  in  township  51,  range  43,  to  the  Ontonagon  river,  in  township 
49,  range  41. — (see  opposite  page.) 

Passing  over  the  trappean  ranges,  we  find  the  sandstone  occupying  the 
southern  slope,  and  bearing  the  same  relation  to  the  trap  as  the  northern 
belt,  with  this  exception,  that  the  intervening  masses  of  conglomerate  are, 
in  the  main,  wanting.  On  the  south  side  of  Keweenaw  Point,  (section 
27,  township  58,  range  28,)  above  Bete  Gris  bay,  the  sandstone  is  seen 
bearing  north  22^°  east,  and  dipping  southeast,  or  away  from  the  trap,  at 
an  angle  of  78°,  and  can  be  traceci  alon^the  lake  shore  for  three-fourths 
of  a  mile.  It  is  nearly  white  in  coior,  composed  almost  entirely  of  sili- 
cious  particles,  and  would  form  an  excellent  firestone.  On  section  36, 
township  58,  range  29,  it  is  again  exposed,  flanking  a  thin  band  of 
conglomerate.  It  here  consists  of  alternating  bands  of  k  white  and  red 
color,  having  a  high  inclination.  In  the  bottom  of  the  bay,  when  the 
lake  is  tranquil,  theae  bands  can  be  seen  describing  immense  curves, 
conforming  in  direction  to  the  course  of  the  Bohemian  range.  Thi? 
is  a  point  of  much  interest,  as  it  enables  us  to  solve  the  problem  of  the 
relative  ages  of  the  unbedded  and  sheet  trap,  and  of  the  associated  sand- 
stone and  conglomerate.  Their  order  of  succession  is  here  distinctly 
traced. 

On  the  east  side  of  section  14,  towHship  57,  range  29,  the  sandstone  is 
observed  in  low  ledges,  forming  the  southern  coast  of  Bete  Gris  bay. 
Although  but  a  few  miles  removed  from  the  igneous  rocks,  it  reposes  in  a 
nearly  horizontal  position.  The  rock  is  very  fissile,  of  a  deep- red  color, 
and  contains  patches  of  dove-colored  clay  and  ochre,  or  hydrous  peroxide 
of  iron.  There  arc  also  numerous  concretions,  resembling,  at  first  sight, 
the  vertebrae  or  joints  of  crinoids,  the  mould  being  filled  with  pure  white i 
silex,  while  in  the  centre  it  is  not  unusual  to  see  a  dark  speck  correspond- 1 
ing  with  the  alimentary  cavity  or  internal  canal.  These  concretions  are  so 
curious  that  we  append  a  figure.     Cutting  through  one  of  them  at  right 


U]        Fig.  17 


I  i->i,   i 


angles  with  the  planes  of  stratification,  it  is  found  to  be  a  sphere  or 


!  I 


•int  it  is  ob- 
les  Temt)y«d 
it  of  contact, 
ap  range  by 
.  good  expo- 
s  almost  in- 
cinity  of  the 
chith.  Judge 
mntains  dip- 
and  trap  will 
n  from  Lake 
,  in  township 

ccupying  the 
I  the  northern 
'lomerate  are, 
'oint,  (section 
Jstone  is  seen 
m  the  trap,  at 
•  three-fourths 
itirely  of  sili- 
Q  section  36, 
thin  band  of 
rhite  and  red 
lay,  when  the 
mense  curves, 
range.  Thi? 
)roblem  of  the 
sociated  sand- 
lere  distinctly 

e  sandstone  is 
Jete  Gris  bay. 
it  reposes  in  a 
eepred  color, 
drous  peroxide 
,  at  first  sight, 
ith  pure  white 
ck  correspond- 
icretions  are  so 
them  at  right 


il         ■')! 


sphere  or  ball 


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/       !     ., 


L.f 


%^    ' 


1 1^ 


Doo.  No.  60. 


115 


r 


enveloping  Ihe  black  speck  which  served  as  a  nnelea§.   Thls'peciiliarity  in 
the  sandstone  has  been  noticed  at  frequent  intervals  as  far  oast  as  the  ' 
Pictured  Rocks,  and  even  at  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  though  "at  the  latter'" 
place  less  perfectly  developed. 

At  Tobacco  river  the  sandstone  is  finely  displayed  in  alternating  bandg  '' 
of  whke  and  red,  forming  cliffs  fifty  or  sixty  feet  in  height.    Just  before   f 
its  entrance  into  the  lake,  the  stream  ia  precipitated  over  a  ledge  of  this  '^ 
rock  from  a  height  often  feet.    The  aboriginal  name  of  the  river  is   Wa-  '' 
snkodewabikasc-sepi,  or  Burnt  Stone  river,  from  the  prevailing  tint  of  the   ■ 
rock.    The  present  name  applies  to  the  dark  color  of  the  water  furnished  ■' 
by  the  cedar  swamps  which  skirt  the  base  of  the  Bohemian  mountains. 
Along  the  shore  the  sandstone  is  beautifully  variegated — parallel  bands 
of  a  flesh  red  color  crossing  the  mass  without  reference  to  stratification,  • 
and  forming  a  striking  contrast  with  the  bnfl'  color  which  constitutes  the 
prevailing  tint.    (Plate  XII,  fig.  1,  retro.) 

Proceoding  up  Keweenaw  bay,  we  find  the  sandstone  lining  the  sli  >  es 
in  bold  cliffs,  with  occasional  entering  bays;  but  there  are  places  wherslor 
miles  it  is  impossible  to  find  a  boat-harbor.  The  stratification  is  hori'5  >n- 
tal,  or  rather  consists  of  numerous  gentle  undulations.  The  waves  have 
excavated  caverns  in  the  clitfs,  and  fashioned  them  into  many  grotesque 
forms.  The  prevailing  dip  of  the  sandstone,  we  inferred,  was  about  5'^  to 
the  northwest.  At  one  or  two  paints  wo  noticed  thitt  the  strata  had  un- 
dergone alight  vortical  dislocations.  As  we  approach  L'Anse,  the  dip  to 
the  northwest  becomes  apparent,  and  a  change  in  the  external  characters 
is  noted.  The  grains  become  coarser,  and  pebbles  of  white  quartz  are  dis-" 
seininatod  through  the  mass..  We  rarely  meet  with  a  pebble  of  green- 
stone or  amygdaloid.  At  Crebbesa's  (section  'diy,  township  .51,  range  33) 
it  bears  northeast,  with  a  very  perceptible  dip  to  the  northwest. 

We  have  thus  traced  it  to  the  limits  of  the  metamorphic  rocks.  To 
describe  its  relations  to  this  system,  although  it  forms  one  of  the  most  in- 
teresting features  in  the  geology  of  the  region,  does  not  come  within  the 
purview  of  this  report. 

The  Sturgeon  river  was  explored  by  Mr.  Hill.  For  twenty  miles  no  rock 
was  exposed  in  place,  and  its  banks  are  bordered  with  stratified  deposi«es  of 
clay,  sand,  and  gravel.  On  section  8,  t^vnship  51,  r*ange  34,  angular 
blocks  of  sandstone  are  observed,  and  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  sec- 
tion the  white  and  red  variety  is  exposed  in  the  bed  of  a  small  stream. 
It  is  extremely  friable,  and  in  other  respects  resembles  that  which  is  ex- 
posed at  the  White  rapids  on  the  Menomonee  river,  south  of  the  great 
anticlinal  axis  between  the  waters  of  Michigan  and  Superior. 

Near  the  south  boundary  of  township  51,  range  34,  the  river  flows  over 
a  rocky  bottom  composed  of  sandstone,  dipping  northwest  from  2°  to  2^°. 
The  rapids  continue  for  three  miles  over  this  rock.  The  local  disturb- 
ances in  this  vicinity  by  reason  of  the  proxiihity  of  the  igneous  rocks  have 
been  elsewhere  described.  The  sandstone  rarely  emerges  to  the  surface, 
but  is  covered  with  heavy  accumulations  of  clay.  The  Sturgeon  river  at 
the  time  of  our  ascent  was  at  high  flood,  a  condition  by  no  means  favora- 
ble to  geological  explorations. 

On  Torch  river  the  sandstone  is  exposed  in  the  bed  of  the  stream  for 
the  distance  of  more  than  a  mile.  It  consists  of  yellow  or  fed  grains,  with- 
out any  visible  cement,  enclosing  quartzose  pebbles  and  patches  of  dove- 
colored  clay  similar  to  that  which  occurs  at  Bete  Gris  bay. 


116 


D6c.  No.  .69. 


11 


\l  t 


Afi  this  san|l|Mlfepojise8SC8  no  cconomicol  value,  it  is  deemed  unaecessar^ 
t  ^rate  furtlj(  r  l(»rnl  detRils.     Its  boundaries  are  defined,  to  rlio  be^it 

ei    ui  1         mtion,  oil  (hf  urrompanying  maps. 

The  su , .  ,  pe  f  xtenda  uuiiiKM !  m  ptedly  from.  Bete  Gris  hay  to  Black  riv«  r, ' 
a  distance  (1 12(»  miles.  On  the  \v(»st  and  north  it  is  bounded  by  the  trap- 
peau  ranges,  and  ou  ilie  south  by  {\i  jt^ranite  and  metamorphic  rocks.  ■  On 
Keweenaw  Point  it  is  about  ten  miles  in  width,  but  between  the  h"  h1  ol'tho 
bay  and  Agogebic  lulce  it  expands  to  twice  that  width.  It  forms  a  longitudi- 
nal valley,  through  wliich  sweep  the  Sturgeon,  the  Ontonagon,  and  Black 
riv  ""s,  in  u  transverse  direction.  The  general  appearance  of  this  valley  is 
'  that  i.r'a  nearly  level  plain,  covered  to  a  great  depth  by  stratified  deposites 
of  reddish-colored  clay,  in  which  the  streams  have  excavated  deep  and 
narrow  ravines.  It  is  thickly  wooded,  and  the  soil  well  adapted  to  agri- 
cultural purposes. 

This  sandstone  has  been  examined  from  F\)nd  du  Lac  to  Grand 
Sable,  a  distance  of  more  than  300  miles.  While  the  beds,  in  the  main, 
have  been  so  little  changed  in  the  process  of  consolidation  aa  to  pre'-erv^ 
on  their  surfaces  the  forms  of  ripple-marks  and  clay-cracks  as  perfecilv  i^s 
we  behold  them  at  this  day  on  the  borders  ot  the  lake,  and  wlule  even 
the  indentations,  of  the  rain-drops  which  paltered  upon  that  ancient  shore 
are  well  preserved,  we  search  in  vain  for  any  traces  of  animal  or  vegetable 
life  which  flourished  during  this  epoch.*  From  their  entire  absence  we 
are  led  to  infer  that,  during  the  deposition  of  the  sandstone,  the  waters  of 
the  sea,  either  from  their  high  temperature  or  by  reason  of  their  imprei?- 
nation  with  noxious  gases,  or  both  causes  combined,  were  rendered  inca- 
pable of  sustaining  vegetable  or  animal  life. 

We  have  adduced  abundant  evidence  to  show  that  during  this  epoch 
the  igneous  causes  were  in  a  state  of  intense  activity — that  numerous  lava- 
currents  issued  from  the  volcani:  ^^ssures,  and  flowed  among  the  silts  and 
sediments  of  the  ancient  sea.  iVlodern  volcanoes  emit  carbonic  acid  gas, 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  and  muriatic  acid.  These  products  must  have 
Ijeen  evolved  much  more  copiously  during  this  epoch,  when  the  exterior 
surface  of  the  earth  communicated  with  the  interior  by  numerous  and  far- 
reaching  fissures,  at  that  time  unfilled. 

•   Humboldt  suppcJses   that  th#  abundance  of  limestone  which  charac- 
*  terizes  the  Silurian  epoch  resulted  from  the  decreasing  heat  of  the  superfi- 
cial waters,  allowing  them  to  absorb  carbonic  acid  from  the  air,  at  that 
<ime  overcharged  with  that  element. 

Before,  the  sandstone  was  entirely  deposited,  the  igneous  causes  had 
almost  ceased  to  operate.  We  may  suppose  that,  as  the  vaU-rs  rarted  with 
their  heat,,  the  limestone  absorbe'^  "Carbonic  acid,  and  wi  s  i..;o  vndownr>s 
a  precipitate  on  the  floor  of  the  ocean. 

In  these  precipitates,  forming  the  lower  magnesiaii  ...^cytone,  we  detect 
in  the  rocks  of  this  region  the  first  traces  of  organic  life.  The  position  of 
this  member  of  the  series,  and  the  entombed  remains,  we  shall  now  pro- 
ceed to  describe.      .  ,  ^      ...;.;,  ,,i;  i.^.i  ■■■.■  >  ■- '    'v.-  •;  u    ■   i;  ■',..,.  • .  ..!■ 


•Vi  ».,  .  '.  •  '.vhans  f  rrept  tha  obscure  traces  of  fucoida  dpscribed  by  Dr.  Locke  ns  occurring 
at  th  ■  Tiiv  '3  ftoctlu.  One  or  two  specimena  oflingula  have  been  found  in  Tequamenen  bay; 
and  01.  i-iic  ••  C,o;\,  stccording  *o  Dr.  Owen,  where  the  evidences  of  volcanic  paroxyaras  ara 
less  iri5rfcoi.5j .  «  s-.indstone  is  hjj'ily  fossiliferoua. 


I:      \ 


Doc.  Ho.  do. 


117 


..f 


I  1 


gas, 


>\vn: 


en  bay ; 
sras  are 


;tilVT<^ir;J  1o  TtR COMPACT,  '>R  LOWf.ll  MAGNRSIAN  LIMESTONE. 

)■);■■ 

i!      The  sandstone,  as  w<  ascend  from  the  lower  strata  to  the  higher,  is 
^^fouHd  to  be  loss  colored  Uv    the  oxides  of  iron,  and  to  take  into  its  com- 
position particles  of  linie,  nntil  finally  it  passes  into  wellcharaoterized, 
,  compact,  magncsian  li    '^stone.      I  no  tipper  portions  of  the   sandstone 
(I  effervesce  with  acids,  wiiere  a  (granular  structure  only  is  recognisable  by 
the  eye.     We  apply  the  term  trignesian  to  this  heU  to  define  its  litho- 
logical  characters,  ulthongh  the  associated  organic  remains  wonld  seem 
to  indicate  the  presence  of  several  of  the  lower  Silurian  groups,  which 
.  cannot  be  recognised  by  lithological  differences. 

I'he  whole  of  the  northern  slope  of  the  anticlinal  axis  bears  evident 

;.'  arks  of  having  been  subjected  to  extensive  detuidation;  and  hence  over 

i  J  greater  portion  of  this  region  wo  look  in  vain  lor  traces  of  limestone 

nicMs.    If  they  existed,  they  have  been  swept  away;  and  wherever  we 

'  penetrate  lliroug!i  the  thick  deposite  of  clay  and  sand,  we  find  the  rock 

;  in  place  to  be  sandstone.     A  limited  patch  of  limestone,  however,  yet 

•    remains  west  of  L'Anse,  forming  the  highest  elevation  in  that  direction 

t  till  we  reach  the  trap  range.     It  is  in  township  51 ,  ranie  35,  and  occupies 

,:  a  portion  of  four  sections.     It  was  first  discovered  by  Mr.  C.  C.  Doug- 

.  lass,  in  the  summer  of  1846,  but  nothing  farther  was  known  until  the 

.  township  was  subdivided  in  I84S,  when  its  extent  and  .  xact  locality  were 

determined.  '  ■    < 

Near  the  quarter-post,  between  sections  13  and  14,  tow  -tship  51, range 

i    35,  the  limestone  is  seen  in  place,  forming  a  bluff,  aboi  '  ,50  feet  above 

.    a  small  stream  at  its  base.    Here  the  strata  are  nearly  hor  zontal,  tli  "Ugh 

large  blocks  have  slidden  down  the  side  of  the  hill,  and  thus  appear  to 

dip  towards  the  east.    The   hmestone  rests  upon  a  wh  te  sandstoHe, 

!    which  belongs  to  the  upper  part  of  the  formation  which  we  have  described 

('  as  underlying  the  whole  of  this  valley. 

A  little  to  the  west  of  the  line,  between  sections  23  and  24,  and  ex- 
tending for  a  little  more  than  a  mile,  the  limestone  is  seen  in  a  high  cliff 
which  runs  south  and  gradually  bends  to  the  eastward,  crossing  the  line, 
in  several  ridges,  near  the  southenf  limit  of  these  sections,  when  it  dis- 
.    appears  beneath  the  drift  materials.     Ledges  of  itock  are  occa:  lonally  ex- 
posed, from  20  to  60  feet  in  thickness.    The  height  of  the  blut:  above  the 
surrounding  country  is  fully  200  feet;  and  about  600  feet  a  -ove  Lake 
.    Superior      The  limestene  is  distinctly  stratified,  in  layers  frot     an  inch 
to  a  foot  ^n  thickness,  which  dip,  according  to  measurements  ta  en  along 
the  lower  edge    of   the  precipitous  portion,  from  25''^  to  30*^    and  the 
, .   direction  of  the  dip  is  always  to  the  eastward,  varying  at  d jffere  it  points 
-:   from  N.  60°  E.  to  S.  20°  E. 

It  is  of  a  buff  color — in  some  places  silicious,  with  quartzose  nodules; 
but  in  otliers,  highly  magnesian,  containing  about  45  per  cent,  of  carbonate 
-    of  magnesia. 

r  1       From  the  horizontality  of  the  first  described  deposite,  which  occurs 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  north,  it  seems  evident  that  th--  lime- 
r,i:  stone  ovrerlies  the  sandstone,  althomgh  the  position  of  the  incline-l  beds 
of    he  more   southerly  portion  of  the  limestone  is  at  first  dlffienlt  to 
iv  explain,  since  the  surrou»iding  country  is  low  and  level,  and  under- 
laid by  sandstone  in  horizontal  beds.    It  seems  evident  that  at  this 


MS 


^I>oc.  No.  69. 


I 


point  the  country  lias  been  disturbed  and  upheaved  by  igneous  action 
beneath,  which  has  raised  the  strata,  without  any  appearance  of  Irappean 
rocks  on  the  surface.  This  view  of  the  case  is  corroborated  by  the  fact 
that  at  no  great  distance  from  this  point  an  elevation  occurs  from  which 
the  strata  of  sandstone  dip  on  all  sides,  and  although  there  is  no  igneous 
rock  visible,  yet  it  is  evident  that  the  sandstone  has  been  raised  in  a 
dome-like  protuberance  by  a  mass  of  igneous  rock  pressing  upon  it 
from  below.  The  same  cause  is  also  indicated  by  the  irregular  variation 
of  the  magnetic  needle  in  the  vicinity  observed  by  the  linear  surveyors, 
which  is  iniusual  except  when  caused  by  the  proximity  of  the  trappean 
rocks. 

The  isolated  knob  of  trap  called  Silver  mountain,  which  has  been  be- 
fore descrihed,  is  an  example  in  point — where,  however,  the  elevating 
force  has  not  only  been  sufficient  lo  raise  and  shatter  the  strata  of  sand- 
stone, but,  at  the  same  time,  to  protrude  a  mass  of  molten  igneous  matter 
above  the  surface. 

Geological  position. — As  to  the  geological  position  of  this  limestone, 
there  can  be  littladoubt  that  it  is  superior  to  the  sandstone.  Mr.  Whitney 
and  Mr.  Hill  have  both  explored  it  with  care,  and  both  have  arrived 
at  the  same  conclusion.  The  sandstone,  wherever  observed  in  this  re- 
gion, rests  unconformably  on  the  argillaceous  schists.  It  is  seen  in  this 
position  ten  miles  east  of  this  deposite,  and  is  found  in  the  beds  of  the 
streams  in  this  vicinity.  On  the  southern  side  of  the  axis,  Messrs.  Fos- 
ter and  Hill  found  these  two  groups  occupying  the  same  relative  position. 

Organic  remains. — The  fossil  remains  entombed  in  this  deposite  are 
by  no  means  abundant,  and  are  so  imperfect,  consisting  for  the  most  part 
of  casts,  that  it  is  impossible  to  identify  species.    We  have  submitted 
such  as  were  collected  by  us  to  Mr.  James  Hall,  the  accomplished  palae 
ontologist  of  the  New  York  survey,  and  herewith  append  his  report: 

"I  have  examined  the  fossils  submitted  to  me  from  the  limestone  west 
of  Keweenaw  bay.  The  specimens,  unfortunately,  are  all  in  the  condi- 
tion of  casts  of  the  interior,  and  therefore  the  evidence  is  less  satisfactory 
than  if  the  shells  had  been  preserved.  The  evidence  from  the  whole 
together  goes  to  prove  that  tlie  rocks  from  which  they  were  obtained  be- 
long to  the  older  Silurian  period.  • 

'<  This  evidence  1  will  give  in  detail,  so  that  you  may  judge  of  its  value, 
as  well  as  myself;  and  you  may  give  what  weight  you  think  proper  to  it 
in  your  generalizations. 

"One  of  the  most  conspicuous  fossils  (No.  1)  is  a  species  of  maclurea, 
not  unhke  the  species  from  the  Chazy  limestone.  All  the  species  of  this 
genus  yet  known  have  been  found  in  the  rocks  of  the  lower  Silurian  pe- 
riod; and  although  many  hundreds  of  gasteropodous  molluscs  are  known 
in  the  higher  rocks,  there  is  not  one  of  this  genus,  nor  any  form  ap- 
proaching it.  1  feel  inclined,  therefore,  to  regard  this  genus  as  a  lower 
Silurian  type. 

"No.  2  is  a  fragment  of  a  spiral  gasteropod,  either  mvrc/iisonia  or  lox- 
onema;  the  surface  markings  being  obliterated,  it  is  not  easy  to  determine 
to  which  of  these  genera  it  belongs.  Its  association  with  maclurea  is 
presumptive  evidence  that  it  is  a  yiurchisQnia,  the  species  of  which  in  this 
country  are  restricted  to  the  lowsr  Silurian,  rockss 

.  "Among  the  acephalous  molluscs,  the  casts  of  a  species  of  ambanychia 
,  {No.  3)  are  very  conspicuous.    The  species  are  near  A.  orbkulcUa  of  the 


Doc.  No.  69. 


119 


ns  action 
trappean 

the  fact 
Td  which 

igneous 
sed  in  a 
upon  it 
variation 
meyors, 
trappean 

been  be- 
slevating 
3f  sand- 
us  matter 

niestone, 
Whitney 
3  arrived 
n  this  re- 
3n  in  this 
ds  of  the 
isrs.  Fos- 
position. 
posite  are 
most  part 
ubniiited 
led  palaj 
(ort: 

one  west 
10  condi- 
tisfactory 
whole 
ained  be- 


ts value, 
oper  to  it 

naclurea, 
es  of  this 
urian  pe- 
e  known 
form  ap- 
a  lower 

ia  or  hx- 
etermine 
iclurea  is 
;h  in  this 

banychia 
\ia  of  the 


Trenton  limestone,  but  are  somewhat  more  elongated,  and  in  this  respect 
approach  A,  amygdalina. 

"A  considerable  number  of  specimens  are  of  species  belonging  to  the 
genus  modiolopais,  (No.  4,)  among  which  are  several  bearing  a  close  re- 
semblance to  M.  truncatus.  Other  specimens  (No.  6)  bear  a  very  close 
resemblance  to  edmondia  subtruncata  and  E.  auhangtUata  of  the  Trenton 
limestone,  (Pal.  N.  Y.,  vol.  1,  p.  156,  pi.  35,  figs.  2  and  3;)  but  these 
specimens,  which  are  casts,  show  a  greater  affinity  to  modiotopsis  in  hav- 
ing the  strong  anterior  muscular  impression  so  characteristic  of  that 
genus. 

"The  specimens  No.  6  are  casts  bearing  a  very  close  similarity  to  ed 
mondia  ventricosa.     (Pal.  N.  Y.,  vol.  1,  p.  155,  pi.  35,  fig.  1.)    These 
specimens  cannot  but  be  regarded  as  identical  or  closely  allied  to  the  spe- 
cies cited. 

"The  cast  bears  no  strong  anterior  muscular  impression,  but  the  larainm 
between  the  beaks  are  impressed  on  both  sides  by  prominent  teetli,  which 
furnish  sufficient  marks  to  identify  the  species  in  this  Condition. 

"  No.  7  is  another  species  of  the  same  genus  as  the  last,  and  is  very 
closely  allied,  if  not  identical  with  a  species  from  the  Trenton  limostouo  of 
New  York.  ',■>    '■  k- :■    v'   ■  •■;^' /•    ".!''';  -n-  w 

"The  lepifcnoi  (No.  8)  have  the  characters  of  L.  sericea,  which  in  its 
highest  range  does  not  extend  above  the  Clinton  group  of  New  York, 
and  is  more  characteristic  of  the  limestone  from  the  base  of  the  Trenton 
upward  to  the  top  of  the  Hudson  river  group,  or  blue  limestone  of  Ohio. 

"The  species  oiorthis  (No.  9)  is  too  obscure  to  be  identified,  but  it  pre- 
sents the  characters  known  to  me  only  in  the  lower  Silurian  rocks. 

"  The  crinoid  joints  on  specimen  No.  10  belong  to  the  geims  s^lypto- 
crinus.   The  species  is  not  more  recent  than  the  Hudson  river  group. 

"  The  fragments  of  ort  fioceratitcs  are  too  obscure  to  form  any  reliable  opin- 
ions concerning:  them.  The  other  fossils  belong  to  bodies  unknown  to  me 
at  the  present  time." 

From  all  of  the  facts,  these  fossils  may  be  regarded  as  belonging  to  the 
earlier  types  of  organic  life.  From  the  limited  scale  on  which  these  de- 
posites  are  developed,  and  the  imperfect  character  of  the  organic  remains, 
it  is  impossible  to  fix  their  precise  equivalents  in  the  New  York  classifica- 
tion. The  sandstones  and  limestones  which  we  have  described  may 
be  regarded  as  the  equivalents  of  the  Potsdam  and  Calciferous  sand- 
stones, the  Chazy,  Bird's-eye,  and  Black  river  limestones,  and  perhaps 
of  the  Trenton  and  even  the  Hudson  river  groups. 

We  have  designedly  omitted  many  facts  with  regard  to  the  palajozoic 
rocks  of  this  region;  but  in  a  subsequent  report  we  purpose  to  describe 
their  range  and  extent,  and  also  their  fossil  contents.  In  the  execution 
of  this  task  we  shall  be  aided  by  Mr,  James  Hall,  who  has  investigated 
the  Silurian  rocks  more  thoroughly  perhaps  than  any  other  American  ge- 
ologist. '      'I    ;■•  •  >.t/.l  .'-         -'-ri     'iMmfrh 


RESUME. 


Having  thus,  in  several  of  the  preceding  chapters,  delineated  the  bound, 
aries  and  described  the  Ilthological  characters  and  mineral  associations  of 
the  di^Terent  systems  of  rocks  embraced  within  the  copper  region,  it  will 


-■'■) 


3  Y^ 


■ir-  It'llhl   rt*/n;.v-ji    .  ^     ,f 


ISO 


mmmo.  69. 


not  be  (leenwd  inapfvopriate  to  advert  to  the  Varying  conditional  oAlie 
earth  during  the  period  of  their  formation. 

We  may  sup|  ose  that  at  one  time  all  of  this  district  formed  a  part  of 
the  bed  of  the  primeval  ocean.  Adopting  the  theory  of  a  cooling  globe, 
we  may  further  suppose  that  the  waters  were  in  a  heated  condition/and 
di&red  essentially  in  chemical  composition  from  those  of  the  present 
oceans.  The  earth's  crust  was  intersected  by  numerous,  powerful  fissures^ 
and  the  (A)mmunication  between  the  exterior  and  interior  was  unob- 
structed. Volcanic  phenomena  were  much  more  frequent,  and  exerted 
on  a  grander  scale.  Each  volcanic  paroxysm  would  give  rise  to  power- 
fill  currents  and  agitations  of  the  water,  and  their  abrading  action  in  de- 
taching portions  of  the  pre-existing  rocks,  and  depositing  them  in  beds 
and  layers  on  the  floor  of  the  ocean,  would  operate  with  greater  intensity 
than  at  the  present  time.  We  can  trace  the  remains  of  one  volcanic  fis- 
sure extending  fiom  the  head  of  Keweenaw  Point,  in  a  southwesterly  di- 
rection, to  the  western  limits  of  the  district;  and  of  another,  in  a  parallel 
direction,  from  the  head  of  Neepigon  bay  to  the  western  limits  of  Isle 
Royale.  Along  •the  lines  of  these  fissures  existed  numerous  volcanic 
Tents,  like  those  observed  at  this  day  in  Peru,  Guatemala,  and  Java,  which 
were  characterized  by  periods  of  activity  and  repose.  From  these  vents 
were  poured  forth  numerous  sheets  of  trap,  which  flowed  over  the  sands 
and  clays  then  in  the  progress  of  accumulation.  During  the  throes  and 
convulsions  of  the  mass,  portions  of  rock  would  become  detached,  and 
rounded  simply  by  the  effects  of  attrition,  and  jets  of  melted  matter  be  pto- 
Jected  as  volcanic  bombs  through  the  air  or  water,  which,  on  cooling,  Would 
assume  spheroidal  forms;  while  other  portions  of  the  rock,inastate  of  miniite 
mechanical  division,  would  be  ejected  in  the  form  of  ashes  and  sand, 
which,  mingling  with  the  water,  would  be  deposited,  as  the  oscillations 
subsided,  amon^  the  sands  and  pebbles  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  During 
the  whob  of  this  period  of  volcanic  activity,  the  sands  which  now  form 
the  base  of  the  Silurian  system  were  in  the  progress  of  accumulation,  and 
became  mingled  with  these  igneous  products.  The  level  of  the  sea,  as 
evidenced  by  the  ripple-marks,  was  subject  to  repeated  alterations:  some- 
times it  rose  so  shoal  that  the  marks  of  the  rippling  jvaves  were  impressed 
on  the  sands;  at  others,  it  sank  to  unfathomaole  depths. 

In  the  process  of  consolidation,  the  rockfs  became  traversed  by  numer- 
ous fissures,  and  the  water,  charged  with  lime,  was  forced  in  like  jets  of 
steam,  filling  them  with  materials  different  from  the  enclosing  ma^Ss. 
In  this  way  the  pores  in  the  conglomerate  and  the  vesicles  of  the  amyg- 
daloid were  filled. 

■  i  Thus  alternating  bands  of  igneoup  and  aqueous  rooks  were  formed,* 
nntil  finally  the  great  crystalline  masses  of  greenstone  were  protruded 
through  the  .fissures,  not  in  a  liquid/but  in  a  plastic  state,  lifting  up  the 
bedded  trap  and  conglomirate,  and  causing  them  to  dip  at  high  angles 
fix>m  the  axis  of  elevation.  As  the  volcanic  action  diminished  in  energy, 
the  detrital  rocks  enclosed  fewer  igneous  products;  and,  when  it  ceased 

'Consult,  pouim,  De  la  Beche,  (Survey  of  Cornwall,)  Murchison,  (Silurian  System,)  and 
Professor  Edward  Hitchcock,  ( —  vol.  Ampiican  Journal  of  Science,)  as  to  the  mod»  of  formation 
of  the  bedded  trap. 

These  belts  have  often  been  described  as  dikts,  into  which  the  molten  matter  has  bM>n  inJMn«*d 
«Iong  the  lines  of  least  resistance.  If  this  were  the  cbse,  we  ought  to  find  them,  ItkQ  the  dijces 
of  greenstone  in  the  granite,  cutting  across  the  formation,  for  that  would  be  the  line  of  least  re- 
aictanoe,  and  penetrating  the  nass  in  Numerous  ramifying  reins.    We  should  expect  to  find  the 


of  the 


a  part  of 

g  globe, 

ion, "and 

present 

IS  urtob- 
l  exerted 

0  power- 
3n  in  de- 

1  in  beds 
intensity 
canic  fis- 
sterly  di- 
a  parallel 
ts  of  Isle 

volcanic 
79.,  which 
lese  vents 
the  sands 
liroes  and 
;hed, and 
;er  be  pto- 
[ig,  Would 
ofmimlte 
md  sand, 
scillations 
.    During 
now  form 
jition,  aftd 
le  sea,  as 
is:  sonle- 
[mpressed 

iy  numer- 
like  jets  of 
jng  maiSs. 
Ihe  amyg- 

I  formed,* 
protrudied 
ig  up  the 
jh  angles 
energy, 
1  it  ceased 

lystem,)  and 
}f  formation 

jnMnt*d 

\  of  least  rc- 
It  to  find  the 


.^INm^'No.  69. 


in 


altogether,  sand  and  clay,  derived  from'  regions  remote  ironi  the  lines  of 
disturbance,  were  the  only  materials  which,  for  a  time,  were  deposited  on 
the  floor  of  the  ocean. 

To  illustrate  the  nature  of  volcanic  action,  we  need  only  to  revert  to 
instances  which  have  happened  within  the  present  century.*  So  recently 
as  1831,  a  mass  of  rock  rose  up  from  the  sea  near  the  coast  of  Sicily, 
where  soundings  had  previously  been  made  to  the  depth  of  six  hundred 
feet.  This  mass,  which  was  subsequently  known  as  Graham's  island;, 
rose  gradually  from  the  water,  until  it  attained  an  elevation  of  two  hun- 
dred feet  above  the  surface,  and  a  circumference  of  three  miles.  It  slowly 
diminished  to  the  circumference  of  three  hundred  yards,  and  in  the 
course  of  three  months  sank  eleven  feet  below  the  water,  leaving  a  dan- 
gerous reef. 

The  formation  of  this  island  was  attended  with  earthquakes  and  water- 
spouts, and  the  effusion  of  vast  quantities  of  steam  and  vapor.  The  sur- 
rounding water  was  covered  with  scoriaD  and  the  bodies  of  fishes.  Prag^- 
ments  of  rock  were  detached  by  the  waves  and  currents,  and  deposits! 
in  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  ■  '  '  •  '  -    •'  :«v  <..  ;  '  ^  .^■nv^^^  -■  r y  -  -^ - 

Now,  if  its  bed  were  laid  bate,  it  wOuld  probably  be  found  ^6  exHibit 
a  section  somewhat  like  the  following  : 

1.  A  mass  of  volcanic  rock,  forming  an  axis  orcpne,  crystalline  or  granu- 
lar in  proportion  to  the  rapidity  or  slowness  with  which  it  parted  with  its 
heat,  and  the  degree  of  pressure  to  which  it  had  been  subjected. 

2.  Volcanic  breccia,  consisting  of  fragments  which  had  become  detached 
and  afterwards  reunited  with  the  fluid  mass. 

3.  Coarse  conglomerate,  composed  for  the  most  part  of  pebbles  derived 
from  the  upheaved  mass.  '.'I  ?^^ 

4.  Beds  of  arenaceous  and  calcareous  particles,  brought  down  by  the 
rivers  of  the  adjacent  coast,  and  enveloping  the  remains  of  fishes,  if  not 
too  perishable  in  their  nature,  and  of  snells,  inhabiting  the  surrounding 
sea.. 

The  conglomerates  and  trap  tuffs  would  rapidly  thin  out  as  we  receded 
firam  the  volcanic  focus,  and  be  replaced  by  the  silts  and  sediments  de- 
rived from  the  rivers  flowing  into  the  sea. 

Such,  we  conceive,  was  the  process  by  which  the  rocks  embraced  in 
this  report  were  formed.  The  heated  condition  of  the  fluids,  as  well  as 
the  gaseous  ^exhalations  constantly  escaping  through  the  open  fissures, 
would  prevent  the  development  of  animal  and  vegetable  life. 

junction  between  the  igneous  and  aqueous  rocks  clear  and  well  defined,  and  no  marked  charac- 
teristics between  the  upper  and  lower  portions  of  the  erupte!)  matter. 

This,  however,  is  far  from  being  tne  case.  The  upper  portion  of  the  trap  belts  is  highly  Te- 
sicular,  resembling  pumice.  Frequently  we  find  angular  blocks  of  trap  included  in  this  paste, 
like  ice  which  has  been  broken  into  fragments  and  afterwards  reunited.  W«  find  sandstone  de- 
posited in  the  fissures  of  the  amygdaloid,  and  angular  fragments  of  the  latter  included  in  the 
sandstone.  Between  the  two  rocks  there  is  no  well-defined  line  of  junction.  The  sand  and  lob- 
bies appear  to  have  been  thrown  down  while  the  latter  rock  was  in  a  viscid  state.  On  the  other 
hand,  where  the  trap  is  exposed  reposing  en  the  sandstone,  the  line  of  demarcation  is  clearly 
defined,  the  trap  is  loss  vesicular,  and  the  sandstone  more  changed.  These  nppenrances  clearly 
indicate  to  our  minds  that  the  bedded  trap  flowed  like  lava-»treams  among  the  sands  while  in  the 
progress  of  accumulation,  instead  of  having  been  injected  in  the  form  of  dikes  after  the  con- 
solidation of  the  strata  had  been  effected. 

"This incident  is  cited  by  Murchison  in  his  Silurian  System,  and  applied  in  illustration  of  the 
formation  of  the  bedded  trap. 


M82 


Boo.  No.  69. 


Xt>  When  thfl  ignoons  action  became  donnant,  the  water,  having  parted 
'with  a  portion  of  its  heat,  would  absorb  carhonic  acid  from  the  atmo- 
sphere, which,  uniting  with  the  lime  held  in  solurion,  would  be  precipi- 
tated in  beds  and  layers  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  This  Humboldt  con- 
jectures to  have  been  the  origin  of  the  vast  deposites  forming  the  Silu- 
rian limestones.  As  the  condition  of  the  water  changed,  numerous  tyjies 
of  animaMife  sprang  into  being,  whose  remains  are  so  profusely  scattered- 

^tjlhtoughout  the  strata  of  that  era.     ,.,;.'iri  w. .,  i:>.u; >/.,,--*■  t^*^   i*;-*     .J4>» u 


,'  -'V      -     IS, 


m. 


V  Not*. — Since  the  foregoing  chapter  was  wriUen  we  have  examined  Dana's  Geolo^  of  the 
Exploring  Expedition,  and  find  that  his  description  of  the  Tolcanic  belts  of  the  Padfic  istanda 
^jMrespondB  in  many  respects  with  those  of  the  region  under  consideration. 

Thud,  Msni,  one  of  tiie  Sandwich  islands,  is  composed  of  compact  and  celluitu'  l't.:alt,  and 
compact  clinkstone;  but  at  the  northcaatern  extremity  there  is  a  cliff  of  conglomerate  3^  or  400 
feet  hieh  In  a  pass  through  'he  mountains,  Dr.  Pickering  observed  it  3000  feet  above  the 
level  or  the  sen,  consisting  of  half  rounded  fragment:)  of  volcanic  rocks. 

"On  Oahu,  the  compact  basaltic  lava  alternates  at  times  with  conglomerate  and  tufas.  Many 
of  the  conglomerated  are  beds  of  routided  stones  and  gravel,  of  the  same  material  as  the  nnoun- 
tains.  Others  are  compacted  beds  of  basaltic  earth,  and  have  a  tufa  character.  The  material  in 
many  places  consists  of  true  volcanic  scoriat  and  cinders;  the  former  twisted  and  ropy,  and  the 
latter  looking  like  cemented  pitchstone,  and  the  whole  is  so  loosely  aggregated  a3  to  crumble  in 
the  hands.  The  alter  lation  of  the  solid  and  conglomerate  layers  may  be  seen  at  many  places. 
The  latter  are  very  irregular;  graduating  frequently  into  the  finer  kinds,  and  forming  irre|;ular 
beds." 

In  describing  the  geological  features  of  Kawai,  another  of  thia  group,  he  remarks:  "The  con- 
glomerates are  very  various  in  structure.  Some  are  a  coarse  tufa;  others  consist  of  large  rounded 
oiaFees — many  thirty  cubic  feet  in  size,  lying  together,  with  earth  and  pebbles  fillinsr  up  the  in- 
terstices. They  contain  all  the  rocks  of  t^e  mountains,  the  most  cellular,  as  well  as  the  most 
compact.  Near  the  descent  into  the  Harapepe  valley,  not  far  from  the  bottom,  there  were 
loasses  of  scoriae  in  the  conglomerate,  looking  as  if  there  had  been  ejections  of  scorin  in  the 
▼icinity  while  the  island  structure  was  in  progress,  and  before  the  superincumbent  two  hundred 
feet  of  layers  had  been  formed." 

Similar  conglomerates  occur  at  the  Society  islands,  and  the  Samoan  islands.  "At  the  Fejee 
islands  the  coariie  conglomerates  pass  gradually  into  a  basaltic  sandstone,  consisting  of  fine 

gains  of  a  very  uniform  texture.    A  still  finer  variety  of  compact  structure  resembles  an  argil- 
ceous  rock,  and  might  be  mistaken  for  it  from  hand  specimens.  «  «  • 

'''  "At  the  Mair  ciiflfs  the  conglomerate  differs  in  hardness;  but  in  most  instances  bears  evidence 
oftlie  action  of  heat  in  the  firmness  with  which  the  fragments  are  cemented  together.  They  are 
sometimes  found  in  close  cntact  with  the  solid  basalt,  at  first  seeming  to  be  imbedded  in  it.  At 
many  localities  th«  rock  will  as  readily  break  across  the  fragments  of  basalt  as  along  the  material 
which  unites  them.  These  rocks  are  generally  stratified;  though  the  stratified  structure  is  oflen 
more  distinctly  seen  in  the  distant  view  than  on  the  spot,  in  some  instances  it  is  minutely  dis- 
tinct. The  strata  are  generally  horizontal,  but  along  the  shorei  it  is  n  it  unusual  to  find  a  large 
inclination  towards  the  sea.  Some  of  the  higher  elevations  of  Vanui  Lebu,  (Fejee  islands,) 
•consist  of  these  conglomerates.    The  little  village  of  Mathuata  is  over-looked  by  a  frowning 


ibtuS*  2,000  feet  in  height. 


Ui'.fi  imiiuiH  Vs  jjiflu?''; 


'i)  v.>U  iii'^u-yui  iilijfjvi 


V  J. A.- 

ft..., 


-I, 


i  ^  1 .1 


■>U'Mi 


J. 


4. 


>J'  ;v'i!  fiJ',:':,    .r.\:   \'i 
:■->  r  •' 

v.';^}<-,«f;i,iH^*.    .o;^jj)iJui^i    rn.i  ifi'v  :^-i   yitet  juj  "iji:!,,-  i:Mf»l»  ftv.'r.'.'!j  flmf  ivs -^  <S  ^mfljJfR"  nOi 
■V'upb  iii  oj;-;;fiW4iijiili  'to  oajlii.fj ,.';  .I'uUiit*  tdt  »»  '»j!'b#<isi  U*w<<'H»»si-ft:^f«i*  fcwrf^WsSwiifj 

.'i.':v-^;s' ,V'>"<  Vi!l>d'';q<:  lai.'.T    .tj->:4iu  I'l  ■:.■;:';  ■•'r.vsiiiii.' J   ">('.'  ! '-a  .t:;':.'.i-e.  ■•.-  :v- ■.;  m  ij.-.it  '..i>  ,1. ,  »ih-! 


•■^fvfi'  .ff^ ■"s,'f^'itr*if. 


i 


.i(4*K 


iJitti.  C  .  ')»i--',t«»' 


$%   -tprt  .i>tW>Mf  ^tn  % mliatm- 


g  parted 
tie  atmo- 
I  precipi- 
Mt  con- 
the  Silu- 
1U8  tyi)es 
scatte?e* 


(lofry  of  the 

kdfic  irianda 

l,i,  Tolt,  and 
e  SOO  or  400 
It  above  the 

ifaa.  Many 
a  the  moun- 
e  material  in 
jpy,  and  the 
to  crumble  in 
many  places, 
ling  irregular 

a:  "The  con- 
arge  rounded 
g  up  the  in- 
11  aa  the  moat 
I,  there  were 
scoria  in  the 
two  hundred 

'At  the  Pejec 
listing'  of  fine 
ibles  an  argil- 

• 

^eara  evidence 
They  are 
ed  in  it.  At 
,  the  material 
.cture  ia  often 
yninutely  dis- 
o  find  a  large 
ejee  iaiands,) 
y  a  frowning 


X<T 

It  . 

■Mi    X 


Doc.  No.  69. 


183 


ui 


^he  extent  and  depth  of  the  principal  mines. —  The  effects  of  a  hnowtedge 

of  metals  on  civilization. — England,  her  minerals. —  The  invention  of 

gunpowder. —  The  steam  engine. —  TTie  method  of  proving  veins. — 

Stopeing. —  Timbering. — Machinery  for  raising  the  ores. — Detailed 

description  of  the  Lake  Superior  mines. —  Their  present  produce  and 

prospect  of  future  increase. — Statistics  with  regard  to  the  mineral 

wealth  of  different  countiies. —  The  consumption  of  copper  by  different 

nations.  ,  , 

nmi'.yji}^  vj'..".  arm;  nr.  yi^MKn  i-'I  V^  'yifnmt^hyH^mmrjni-.l' 

The  exploitation  of  mihes  afibrds  some  of  the  most  splendid  examples  of 
hnman  contrivance  and  ingenuity.  In  extent  tfiese  undergroitnd  work- 
ings surpass  the  proudest  monumenls  of  architecture,  and,  with  their  vari- 
ous shafts,  adits,  and  galleries,  constitute  a  labyrinth  as  inextricable  as 
that  of  Crete.  The  largest  architectural  structures  are  erected  to  gratify 
the  public  taste,  or  commemorate  some  signal  achievement  in  aria  or  in 
arms;  but  these  subterranean  structures  exhibit  proofs  of  elaboraie  and 
persevering  ejQTort  scientifically  directed  to  Avhat  is  practical  and  useful. 

To  show  the  extent  to  which  they  have  been  carried,  a  few  prominent 
examples  will  be  cited.  The  engine-shaft  of  the  United  and  Con- 
solidated mines  in  Cornwall  reaches  to  the  depth  of  1 ,650  feet ; 
and  the  length  of  the  various  shafts,  adits,  and  galleries  exceeds 
63  miles.  Tlie  great  adit  for  the  discharge  of  the  waters  of  the  Gwen- 
nap  mines,  Cornwall,  exceeds  thirty  miles,*  The  depth  of  the  fa- 
mous silver  mine  of  Valenciana,  Mexico,  is  1,860  feet.  The  workings 
of  the  Samson  mine  at  Andreasberg,  in  the  Harz,  have  been  prosecuted 
to  the  de^ih  of  2,197  feet.  The  depth  of  the  mines  in  the  Saxon  Erze- 
biige,  near  Freiburg ,  are,  in  Thurmnofer  mines  1,944  feet;  in  Honenbir- 
ker  mines  1,827  feet.  The  depth  of  the  celebrated  mine  of  Joachimsthal, 
in  Bohemia,  is  2,120  feet.  The  Eselschacht,  at  Kuttenberg,  in  Bohemia, 
a  mine  which  is  now  abandoned,  reaches  the  enormous  depth  of  3,778 
feet.  At  Rorerbiihel  there  were,  in  the  sixteenth  century,  excavations  to 
the  depth  of  3,107  feet,  and  the  plans  of  the  works  are  yet  preserved. f 
These  excavations  appear  the  more  wonderful  when  it  is  considered  that 
they  were  made  before  the  introduction  of  gunpowder.  The  old  Kutten- 
berger  mine  is  an  example  of  the  greatest  depth  to  which  human  labor 
has  been  able' to  penetra'te;  and  if,  to  use  the  language  of  Humf)oldt,  wo 
compare  its  depth  (a  depth  greater  than  the  height  of  the  Bmcken,  and 
only  200  feet  less  than  that  of  Vesuvius)  with  the  loftiest  structures  that 
the  hands  of  man  have  erected,  (with  the  Pyramid  of  Cheops,  and  with 
the  Cathedral  of  Strasburg,)  we  find  that  they  stand  in  the  ratio  of  eight 
tojone. 

The  products  of  mines  have  contributed  in  a  marked  degree  to  the  ad- 


?^' 


.         ,  *I>elaBecheandBurr.  '' 

fjfliln  '^ 'h  v'liK'U.ir;  Homboldt,  Coimoa, Tolume  I. 


JLlii'Ui. 


'Miiuiyjb'"  -viT 


I 


m 


\ 


m 

I 'A' 


I'i 


4 
ill 


tm 


.^Ooe^o^69. 


vancenient  of  the  human  race.  Withont  a  knowledge  of  their  applica- 
tion to  the  useful  arts,  the  human  family  would  have  rennained  in  ftlie 
rudest  and  most  simple  state  of  society,  dependent  on  the  chase  or  the 
8)X)];itaneous  fruits  of  the  earth  for  the  means  of  subsistence;  or  certain 
tribes,  under  favorable  circumstances,  might  have  become  nomadic  herds- 
men. This  knowledge  rests  at  the  foundation  of  the  three  great  objects 
of  human  pursuit — agriculture,  commerce,  and  manufactures.  -  vrk  «ir\'' 
■  To  show  how  intimately  the  metals  are  connected  with  the  comforts 
and  conveniences  ol  life,  we  need  only  to  refer  to  our  daily  observation. 
They  afford  to  man  the  means  of  rapid  communication  between  distant 
points;  they  avr  pissential  in  the  construction  of  the  roof  that  shelters  him, 
m  the  preparation  of  the  food  that  nourishes  him,  aijd  pf  Ui^.raiment 
wherewith  he  is  clothed.  '  ^A.u'Wi'vi 

It  will  be  found,  too,  that  the  greatness  of  a  nation  is  as  dependent  upon 
the  geological  structure  of  the  country  as  upon  any  peculiarity  of  its  laws 
and  institutions.^  England  owes  her  preeminence  among  European  na- 
tions as  much  to  her  twineral  wealth  as  to  the  principles  of  her  free  consti- 
tution. It  is  probable  that  she  would  have  been  as  powerful  as  we  now 
behold  her,  had  she  never  been  successively  invaded  by  Roman,  Dane, 
and  Norman.  Long  before  the  Christian  era,  her  shores  were  visited  by 
the  Tyrian  fleet,  in  search  of  tin  to  convey  to  the  then  emporium  of  the 
world.  Her  mineral  wealth  has  been  the  main-spring  of  her  prosperitj^; 
and  were  this  exhausted^  she  would  sink  to  a  second-rate  power.  It  is 
this  which  has  built  her  workshops  and  factories,  and  filled  them  with 
colossal  machinfery ;  it  is  this  which  has  equipped  her  fleets,  and  mace  her 
the  carrier  of  the  world  on  the  great  highway  of  nations. .  Her  exhaust- 
less  supply  of  fossil  fuel  has  made  Swansea  the^  smelting-house ,  for  the 
copper  of  both  hemispheres.  It  is  this  which  moves  her  20,000  steam- 
engines,  supplanting  the  labor  of  at  least  five  millions  of  men,  and  per- 
forming it  with  a  precision  and  certainty  whifeh  human  hands  could  not 
attain. 

There  are  two  inventions  which  have  given  the  moderns  infinitely 
greater  facilities  in  the  exploration  of  mines  than  were  enjoyed  by  the 
ancients.     These  are  the  inventions  of  gunpowder  and  the  steam-engine. 

;Tbe  invention  of  the  former  has  been  ascribed  to  the  Arabian  alchy- 
•mlsts,  but  M.  Reinaud  has  shown  that  their  claim  is  without  foundation. 
It  was  f?rst  used  fot  blasting  rocks  in  the  Ramraelsberg  mines,  in  the 
'  Harz  mountains,  in  the  twelfth  century.  It  was  first  introduced  into 
England,  according  to  Mr.  Watson,  early  in  the  seventeenth  century,  by 
Prince  Rupert,  who  brought  over  a  gang  of  German  miners  and  eaiployed 
them  in  the  copper  mines  of  Staffordshire.  It  was  not  known  in  Somerset- 
shire iwtil  1620,  after  which  it  becfame  introduced  into  Cornwall.  If  has 
been  supposed  that  it  was  first  used  in  the  districts  of  Lelant,  Zennor,  and 
St.  Ives,  by  two  men,  named  Bell  and  Case,  who  came  from  the  East. 
They  kept  their  operations  a  profound  secret,  suffering  no  one  to  see  them 
charge  the  holes;  but  a  man  of  Zennor  concealed  himself  behind^  ^)olt, 
and  discovered  and  revealed  the  mystery.  ,.,  .  - 

The  steam-engine  has  proved  as  ofiicient  an  auxiliary  in  the  working  of 
mines  as  gnnpowder,  and  without  its  aid,  manyof  the  mines  of  Europe, 
rirty^r  profitable,  v-'ould  be  rendered  worthless;  ■ 

The  advantages  of  this  agent  have  been  graphically  described  by  ]Mr. 


VVebst 

it  is  in 

veyan( 

surface 

pumps 

weaver 

.     ;The 

ill  Con 

thus  en 

mated  I 

In  Ih 

exceed i 

lofty  tra 

for  draii 

The 

position 

shafts  o 

inclined 

n^cessar 

shaft  mi 

advisabl. 

the  exen 

engineer 

the  shaft 

ofdrainii 

^Vhere  a 

rid  of  a  fj 

known  „ 

saving  a 

Slims  exr 

The  cl 

extending 

of  50  ore 

tremities 

the  lode. 

of  oblong 

complishe 

excavatioi 

tangular  r 

is  carrying 

n^th  the" 

i'^t.    In  { 

steps  betv< 

lioors  are 

S«ch  port 

sufficient!) 

^TOrking  w 

the  mines 

Tho  asc 

ni-../-i.,.J   : 


B^^'BHD.HBfll 


IW 


appUca- 
3d  in  ttlie 
se  or  the 
)r  certain 
lie  herds- 
at  objects 

comforts 
servation. 
in  distant 
Iters  him, 
e.  raiment 

dent  upon 
)f  its  laws 
ropean  na- 
free  consti- 
is  we  now 
lan,  Dane, 
visited  by 
iam  of  the 
prosperity, 
>wer.     It  is 
them  with 
id  maae  her 
;er  exhaust- 
use,  for  the 
,000  steam- 
,  and  per- 
could  not 


IS  infinitely 
^yed  by  the 
sam-engine. 
abian  alchy- 
[  foundation, 
lines,  in  the 
Muced  into 
[century,  by 
Id  employed 
|in  Someroet- 
^all.    It  has 
iennor,  and 
.„  the  East. 
to  see  them 
thind  9.  bolt, 

working  of 
of  Europe, 

libedby  Mr. 


Webster:*  "  It  is  on  the  rivers,  and  the  boatman  may  repose  on  his  oars; 
it  is  in  highways,  and  begms  to  exert  itself  along  the  courses  ef  land  con- 
veyances; it  is  at  the  bottom  of  mines,  a  thousand  feet  below  the  earth '#> 
surface;  it  is  in  the  mill,  and  in  the  workshops  of  the  trades;  it  rows,  it 
pumps,  it  excavates,  it  carries,  it  draws,  it  lifts,  it  hammers,  it  spins,  it 
weaves,  it  prints."     'jTt»i 'iVfi  .)!nv/;»'iO*  :  jkia-.jucit'r) 

The  first  steam-engine  employed' in  mining  in  Great  Britain  was  erected 
ill  Cyru wall,  between  the  years  171i)  and  1714;  now,  the  steam-power 
thus  employed  for  these  purposes,  according  to  Mr.  Watson,  may  be  esli-'' 
niatiid  as  amounting  to  the  labor  of  1.50,000  horses,  or  that  of  750,000  men. 
Id  the  LakeVSuprior  copper  region  the  position  of  the  mines  is  generally 
exceedingly  favorable  fiir  exploration;  they  are  mostly  situatea  in  the 
lofty  trappean  cliffs,  which  afford  great  facilities  for  raising  the  ore  and 
for  draining  the  water. 

The  usual  method  resorted  to  for  the  purpose  of  mining  a  vein,  the 
position,  underlie,  and  bearing  of  which  have  been  determined,  is  to  sink 
shafts  on  the  lode  where  it  is  nearly  vertical,  or  away  from  it  where  it  is 
inclined,  so  as  to  intersect  it  at  a  given  depth.  In  the  latter  case,  it  is 
necessary  to  excavate  much  unprofitable  ground  in  order  that  the  working 
shaft  may  be  perpendicular.  Simultaneously  with  these  operations,  it  is 
advisable  to  commence  the  construction  of  an  adit-level — a  work  requiring 
the  exercise  of  the  highest  judgment  and  skill  on  the  part  of  the  mining 
engineer,  not  only  to  select  the  most  advantageous  site,  but  to  intersect 
the  shaft  at  a  given  point.  The  adit-level  often  serves  the  double  purpose 
of  draining  the  mine  and  of  exploring  the  country  through  which  it  passes. 
AVhere  a  lode  is  profitable,  the  advetUurers  often  expend  large  sums  to  get 
vid  of  a  few  inches  of  water.  Professor  Ansted  states  that  he  has  often 
Icno'.vn  .^'20,000  or  ^30,000  expended  in  this  way  for  je  purpose  of 
saving  a  single  foot  of  water.  We  have  before  adverted  to  the  immense 
Slims  expended  at  the  C9nsolidated  mines  on  these  objects. 

The  contents  of  the  lode  are  attacked  by  means  of  horizontal  galleries 
extending  between  the  shafts.  These  are  ordinarily  driven  at  the  depth 
of  50  or  60  feet.  Winces  or  vertical  shafts  are  often  started  from  the  ex- 
tremities of  the  galleries,  for  the  pur;»oses  of  ventilation  and  laying  bare 
the  lode.  In  this  way  the  motallic  contents  of  a  veiti  are  cut  into  a  series 
of  oblong  blocks,  the  removal  of  which  is  called  siopeing:  This  is  ac- 
complished in  two  ways — either  from  above  or  below.  Iix  either  case  the 
excfivations  are  disposed  in  steps,  like  a  stair.  One  miner  cuts  out  a  rec- 
tangular mass  from  4  to  6  yards  in  length  and  2  yards  high.  While  he 
is  carrying  forward  this  work,  another  miner  commences  two  yards  be- 
n^Ath  the  first,  and  in  the  same  manner  excavates  the  rock  beneath  his 
feet.  In  this  manner  as  many  miners  operate  simultaneously  as  tfvere  are 
steps  between  tKe  two  horizontal  galleries.  As  they  advance,  wooden 
lloors  are  constructed  for  the  purpose  of  sustaining  the  attle  or  rubbish. 
Such  portions  of  the  lode  only  are  taken  down  as  are  supposed  to  be 
sufficiently  rich  to  pay  for  the  extraction  of  the  metal.  This  method  of 
working  will  be  readily  understood  from  an  inspection  of  the  sections  of 
the  mhies  attached  to  the  descriptions  in  this  chapter. 
The  ascent  and  descent  of  the  miners  is  effected  by  means  of  ladders 
against  the  shaft,  interrupted  at  every  ten  fathoms  by  floors.     In- 


c,f.<,.J 


*  Address  before  the  Boston  Lyceum. 


mm 


Bbt.m.m 


s 


ventieai  forflseending^  aint  deseendfrfg' 'fi^r  iiuuslifrii^^  Been  ptit  la 
rraoticein  thedeepmines  of  the  Harz,  and  other  districts  where  the  mines 
riave  been  worked  to  a  great  depth,  by  which  a  great  saving  ef  time  is 
effected. 

The  timbering  of  the  shafts  and  adits  forms  in  many  mines  a  very 
considerable  item  of  expense.  In  Cornwall,  the  timber  mostly  employed 
is  Horwegian  pine;  in' Germany,  on  the  contrary,  oak  is  chiefly  used. 
Such  kinds  of  wood  as  can  be  had  at  the  least  cost  are  generally  used, 
though  the  importance  of  sound  timbering  in  extenisive  mines  is  very"  great, 
.'ind  the  condition  of  this  portion  of  the  work  forms  a  considekable  item  in 
pstiniating  the  value  of  a  mine  which  has  been  long  worked*.  The  quan- 
tity of  timber  in  the  Cornish  mines  is  so  great  that  it  has  been  estimated 
that  it  would  require  one  hundred  and  forty  square  mile^  of  Norwegian 
Ibrest  to  supply  it. 

The  quantity  of  timbering  required  in  the  Lake  Superior  mines  ir.  com- 
paratively small,  since  the  walls  of  the  shafts  are  of  firm  and  unyielding 
rock;  but  near  the  surfece,  where  the  rock  is  broken  and  disintegrated, 
strong:  supports  are  requisite. 

The  annexed  sketch  (fig,  18)  will  explain  the  method  of  timbering  a 
horizontal  excavation  througlj  which  a  tram-road  is  laid  for  conveying  the 
ores  to  the  surface: 

yS^Ww^  *^^"     Pig.  18.    ^  ^^<>**-  '■'"'■  'f^^«''-T>' 


^^;-.■l|l,t^f. 

>rl»  v.< 


In  the  Lake  Superior  laud 
district,  the  resinous  trees  af- 
ford the  best  material  for  tim- 
bering; and  the 'tamarack,  in 
strength  and  durability,  will 
probably  bo  found  superior  la 
all  others.  The  spars  should 
be  deprived  of  their  bark,  as, 
by  retaining  the  moisture,  it 
accelerates  decomposition. 

The  pumping  of  the  water 
from  the  mines,  and  the  raising 
of  the  ore,  in  this  district,  have 
been  thus  far  effected  principal- 
ly by  horse- whirfts.  At  the  Cliff 
mine  it  was  the  intention  of  the  proprietors  to  put  up  steam  xnachinery 
for  this  purpose  during  the  past  winter,  which  we  presume  is  now  in 
successful  operation. 

This  agency  will  ultimately  be  employed  at  all  the  mines,  even  where 
water- po^er  can  be  made  available;  for,  in  a  region  where  the  climate  is 
so  rigorous  as  on  the  borders  of  Lake  Superior,  and  where  for  months  in 
succession  the  thermometer  does  not  range  above  the  freezing  point,  there 
is  too  much  uncertainty  connected  with  the  use  of  the  latter.  In  the 
stamping  mills,  during  the  intensely  cold  weather,  it  becomes  necessary 
to  resort  to  fires  to  prevent  the  steam  from  congfialing  on  the  engine,  in 
long  icicles,  and  the  ice  from  forming  on  the  stamp-heads.  In  an  ex- 
tensively ofened  mine,  giving  emplr>yment  to  many  hundred  people,  un- 
certainties of  this  kind  must  be  avoided.  The  work  must  progress  from 
day  to  day,  the  stop<;rs  follovviiig  fast  oil  the  drivers. 
—  \    "         •  '   »  .' 


■T^ 


Doci  No.  69/  ri 


i«rt 


I  put  iu 
ic  mines 
^  time  is 

3  a  very 
mployed 
iy  used, 
ily  used, 
ery'  great, 
e  item  in 
'hequan- 
estimated 
orwegian 

BS  ir.  com- 
myielding 
tiiegrated, 

mbering  a 
y eying  the 

efior  tana 
s  trees  af- 
al  for  tim- 
imarack,  in 
laility,  will 
uperior  lo 
)ars  should 
bark,  as, 
fioisture,  it 
)sition. 
the  water 
the  raising 
strict,  have 
d  principal- 
At  the  Cliff 
machinery 
is  noA^,,i|Di 

sven  where 
^  climate  is 
months  in 
oint,  there 
Isr.    In  the 

necessary 
I  engine,  in 
I  In  an  ex- 

.aple,  un- 
bgress  from 


>?)yB 


lo- 


The  ustml  whim  oinployed  in  the  mines  is  exhibited  in  the  nr^mmdcOtz 

"""'^     '"   ■' ''        .'«•  Itt*     uii)  liunaiji  I  Ui»,,ui-ri  lo  i:  .!„„  '. 

^-^yj  /JIM  ^        ^~rr^-      .    aII  /a\\\\   ill 'I,  ^  '  \\\  \\\  M/b.  j>M)ii«u 

.'wiii  >-'i 

I  am 

A  vertical  axis  supports  a  drum  on  which  a  rope  is  wound  and  unwound 
the  rope  passing  over  fixed  pulleys,  called  poppet-heads,  and  being 
atlached  to  the  two  kibbles  or  buckets,  one  of  which  descends  as  the 
other  ascends.  In  raising  the  heavy  masses  of  copper  at  tlie  Cliff  mine,  a 
powerful  capstan  is  used,  in  connexion  with  suitable  tackle,  by  which  a 
weight  of  several  tons  can  be  raised,  irr  urn 

Having  thus  briefly  noticed  the  general  nature  of  the  exploration,  trt 
will  now  proceed  to  describe  the  principal  mines  in  this  district;  and  to 
illustrate  the  method  of  working,  and  the  progress  of  the  underground 
operations,  we  have  prepared  several  sections,  talien  principally  from 
surveys  and  measurements  of  Mr.  Hill. 

"vf'<-."i  <rt-iffw  ,•.',   qm]  ■;;:I|ii'j. ,cuFF  ^^l:<E^^■  ifi ^ikxY init  '^ii^  v^j^'mTHKytjth  tii 


lit: 


!'n^^'(f?i?'> 


A*  1- 


The  Cliff  mine  is  situated  on  Keweenaw  Point,  about  three  miles  from  the 
lake  shore,  in  the  southwest  quarter  section  36,  township  58  north,  range* 
32  west.  A  rangi  of  elevated  hills  sweeps  round  in  a  crescent  form,  trending'  ■ 
in  a  southwesterly  direction,  and  forming  the  western   boundary  of  the 
valley  of  Eagle  river.     In  places  these  hills  attain  an  elevation  of  800 
feet,  and  towards  the  valley  present  bold  mural  escapments,  while  on  the 
side  exposed  to  the  lake  the  slope  is  gradual.     This  range  is  composed  of 
trappean  rocks.     The  summit  4s  capped  by  a  hard  crystalline  gireenstone, 
as  at  the  Cliff  mine,  passing  into  a  feldspathic  porphyry,  as  at  the  Albion. 
Below,  and  forming  the  base  of  the  ridge,  is  a  belt  of  granular  trap,  oc- 
casionally amy  gdaloidal.     Between  the  two  there  is  a  thin  belt  of  slaty 
chlorite  about  twelve  feet  m  thickness.  These  belts  dip  to  the  north  atai» 
angle  of  45°,  conforming  in  this  respect  to  the  inclination  of  the  detrital 
rocks  which  jflank  the  range  on  the  north.    Wherever  veins  are  olTserved 
in  the  greenstone,  they  are  tbund  to  be  pinched  and  barren ;  but  wher» 
they  enter  the  compact  or  granular  trap  they  expand  in  width,  and  bo^ 
I  come  charged  with  metal.    This  trap  has  a  good  degree  of  firmness,  and 
consists  of  labrador  feldspar,  and  chlorite.    It  has  been  remarked  that  the 
best  rock  in  this  region  for  productive  veins  is  neither  a  crystalline  green- 
stone nor  a  soft  porous  amygdaloid,  but  a  granular  trap,  with  occasional 
jamygdules  scattered  through  it,  and  possessing  a  good  degree  of  consist- 
|eacy.     Where  veins  enter  the  greensioiie,  as  betbre  remarked,  they  be- 
come pinched;  where  they  penetrate  the  soft  amygdaloid,  they  become 
mattered  and  lose  themselves.  .  - 


IM   T 


imi 


Dot^jNcK-eaocj 


liliii  ii 


The  lode  of  the  Cliff  mine  is  «een  to  oatnp^  a  break  or  depjeasion  '!ll 
the  hill,  and  thence  can  be  traced  to  its  base.  It  was  discovered  in  the 
summer  of  1845,  and  during  the  succeeding  fall  a  drift  was  carried  into 
the  greenstone  about  one  hundred  feet,  (see  plan,  A,)  and  between  that 
point  and  the  summit  several  others  were  opened.  When  first  discovered, 
the  vein  could  only  be  seen  in  the  upper  belt  of  greenstone,  the  metallifer- 
ous zone  beiug  concealed  by  detritus.  No  one  could  have  inferired  from 
its  appearance  at  that  time  that  the  enormous  masses  of  copper  existed  but 
a  short  distance  below  which  subsequent  explorations  revealed.  It  was 
examined  by  Dr.  Jackson  and  Mr.  Whitney  conjointly,  about  the  time  of 
its  discovery,  who  reported  that  the  surface  indications  were  not  highly 
fiivorable  at  the  points  where  the  vein  was  exposed,  but  that,  as  it  became 
wider  and  richer  in  its  downward  course,  the  company  should  by  all 
means  make  a  thorough  examination  by  uncovering  and  examining  the 
vein  at  the  base  of  the  cliff.  At  the  summit  it  appeared  hardly  more  than 
an  inch  or  two  in  width:  the  gangue  was  mostly  pvehnite,  with  copper 
associated  with  silver,  incrusted  with  beautiful  capillary  crystals  of  red 
oxide.  Further  down  the  vein  was  again  exposed ;  here  it  had  expanded 
to  the  width  of  nearly  two  feet,  the  veinstone  consisting  of  a  series  of 
reticulations  of  laumonite. 

Up  to  this  period  the  sandstone  and  conglomerate  Vtero  supposed  by 
many  to  afford  the  best  mining-ground,  and  that  to  this  source  they 
were  to  look  for  permanent  supplies  of  the  sulphurets  of  copper. 

During  the  winter  of  1845-'40,  some  German  miners,  \n  clearing  away 
the  talus  near  the  base  of  the  cliff,  discovered  a  small  loose  specimen  of 
mass  copper.  This  stimulated  them  in  their  researches,  which  resulted 
in  the  discovery  of  the  vein  in  the  belt  of  ^^ranular  trap  (A)  about  twelve 
feet  to  the  east,  showing  that  it  had  been  vibjected  to  that  amount  of 
heave  or  dislocation.  From  thai  ooint  a  level  was  carried  into  the  hill 
seventy  feet  before  anything  valuable  was  developed,  when  the  great  mass, 
«o  called,  was  struck— a  fortunate  circumstance,  npt  only  to  the  company, 
but  to  the  whole  mining  interest  on  Lake  Superior.  It  gave  encourage- 
ment to  those  engaged  in  these  pursuits,  and  induced  them  to  persevere. 
It  also  demonstrated  the  true  source  from  which  the  loose  masses  occa- 
sionally found  on  the  lake  shore  had  been  derived.  It  demolished  the 
fanciful  theory  advanced  by  at  least  one  geologist  as  to  the  transport  of 
the  Ontonagon  mass  from  Isle  Royale,  and  showed  that  it  was  not  neces- 
sary to  resort  to  icebergs  and  changes  in  the  relative  level  of  land  and 
water  to  account  satisfactorily  for  its  position.  From  that  time  to  the 
present  day,  hardly  a  month  has  elapsed  wi^iout  developing  new  masses; 
and  their  occurrence,  so  far  from  creating  wonder,  is  regarded  as  a  matter  of 
course.  "The  largest  single  mass  hitherto  exposed  weighed  about  fifty 
tons.  The  position  of  the  mass  copper  in  the  vein  is  indicated  by  the 
spaces  between  the  dotted  lines  marked  M,  while  the  intervening  spaces, 
marked  S,  afford  stamp  work. 

It  will  be  seen,  bv  reference  to  the  plan,  that  the  levels  1,2,  and  3  have 
been  extended  northwardly  into  the  greenstone  before  described,  but  in 
no  instance  has  the  vein  been  found  after  having  pierced  that  rock.  This 
ajrises  probably  fiom  the  lateral  dislocation  before  referred  to,  the  true  posi- 
tion of  the  vein  being  twelve  feet  to  the  west.  As  a  matter  of  curiosity 
ewen,  ifc  would  be  desirable  to  crosscut  to  determine  the  extent  of  this  fault, 
-and  tlie  character  of  the  vein  where  it  enters  the  greenstone.    It  will, 


sioiL'iti 
I  in  the 
ied  into 
en  that 
;ov6red, 
jtallifer- 
ed  from 
sted  but 

It  was 

time  of 
t  highly 
,  became 
d  by  all  , 
ning  the 
lOre  than 
a  copper 
Is  of  red 
ixpanded 

series  of 

posed  by 
irce  they 

ing  away 
eciraen  of 
h.  resulted 
kut  twelve 
mount  of 
to  the  hill 
reatmass, 
company, 
ncourage- 
persevere. 
sses  occa- 
lished  the 
ansport  of 
not  neces- 
■  land  and 
ae  10  the 
w  masses; 
i  matter  of 
about  fifty 
ted  by  the 
3g  spaces, 

md  3  have 
3d,  but  in 
ck.  This 
I  true  posi- 
)f  curiosity 
this  fault, 
It  will, 


Of) 


Doc.  No.  69. 


129 


without  doubt,  be  found  less  metalliferous  at  Uiat  point  than  in  the  gronu- 
lar  trap  which  contains  the  present  workings. 

The  deepest  shaft  in  this  mine  has  been  sunk  270  feet  below  the  sur- 
face. The  other  two  are  little  less  in  depth.  The  adit,  which  drains  the 
mine  to  the  depth  of  100  feet  below  the  first  gallery,  has  been  extended 
760  feet.  The  amount  of  stopeing  and  timbering,  and  the  disposition  of 
the  attle,  or  rubbish,  will  be  seen  by  inspecting  the  plan. 

The  force  employed  in  this  mine  at  the  present  time  consists  of  160 
meu.  The  mine  is  under  the  management  of  Capt.  Jennings,  who  has 
'lisplayed  much  energy  and  judgment  in  developmg  it.  If  any  criticism 
may  be  allowed,  it  would  bo  to  the  effect  that  there  has  been  no  increase 
in  the  force  for  tl  e  last  eighteen  months.  The  openings  in  the  mine 
should  be  in  advance  of  the  slope  work.  By  pushing  these  forward  the 
country  is  explored,  ample  space  is  given  to  tlie  miners  to  wark,  and  op. 
portunities  from  time  to  time  afforded  to  increase  the  force. 

The  machinery  employed  for  raising  the  ore  and  freeing  the  mine  from 
water  is  admirably  contrived;  but  thu  mine  is  now  so  thoroughly  opened 
that  the  company  will  soon  substitute  a  steam-engine  in  the  place  of 
horse-power.  The  stamps  erected  here  were  the  first  which  operated 
successfully,  and  have  served  as  a  model  for  the  mines  in  other  parts  of 
the  district. 

The  connexion  between  the  different  parts  of  the  mine  is  exhibited  in 
Plate  VIII,  which  is  to  be  regarded  as  a  plan,  rather  than  a  landscape. 
The  cliff  in  the  back  ground  consists  of  the  crystalline  greenstone  before 
described.  The  vein  traverses  it  in  a  nearly  perpendicular  direction, 
pierced  by  several  galleries  which  extend  no  great  distance,  as  will  be 
seen  by  reference  to  the  sdiMion,  Plate  VII — the  vein  here  proving  to  be 
contracted  and  meagre  in  metal.  The  mining  ground,  represented  in 
Plate  VII  occurs  below  the  cliff  of  greenstone  in  a  belt  of  amygdaloidal 
trap,  and  the  relations  of  the  two  rocks  are  exhibited  in  the  plan  last  re- 
ferred to.  The  poppet-heads  and  whims  for  raising  the  ore  and  water  are 
seen  at  the  entrance  of  the  shafts.  The  building  near  the  centre  is  use'' 
for  calcining  the  rock  preparatory  to  stamping  it,  assorting  the  ore,  ano 
cutting  the  mass  copper.  The  building  on  the  extreme  right  contains 
the  stamps  and  washing  apparatus,  which  will  be  described  in  detail  in 
another  chapter.  The  productiveness  of  this  vein  may  be  inferred  from 
the  amount  of  stopeing  which  has  been  done,  which  is  represented  by 
the  dark  portions  in  the  section,  Plate  VII.  The  disposition  of  the  attle 
is  also  there  represented. 

From  the  reports  of  the  trustees  rendered  in  1849  and  1850  we  gather 
the  following  information: 

The  amount  of  capital  stock  paid  in  by  the  stockholders  =  $110,000. 
The  personal  effects  of  tlie  company  on  the  1st  of  December,*l848,  were 
$140,982,  leaving  a  surplus  of  fill, 105 — a  sum  a  httle  more  than  equiv- 
alent to  the  entire  capital  stock.  This  statement  does  not  include  the 
mine,  with  its  fixtures  and  improvements,  such  as  the  stamping-mill, 
furnace,  &c.  ' 
9 


««» 


•«<>  -V-W/No.  69. 


Tiie  net  products  of  the  mine,  and  the  exj^cnscs  of  mitiiiig  proper, 
tiom  the  coniDienceuient,  are  ffiven  below;  ,  i         • 

,1-1  Producu.      j  vtiljo        BxpenMB. 

IS46   ''-I'-'ni  ,.iii\  ,{i./*u«  ^Mjioiij  V.'  .    S8,870  95    i{iq.,i,    IfSa.aoa  44 

1847  ■o^*ii>oilt.^,iii,'5!ttn'h!i.iri.bfi!;  liivi'.TO,977  32    jh  f.,f«i     ^1,737  86 

1848  .       .    -«;!':  ofiJ,j„?iiv.^,,in  •,.1.   160,407  02    hftftn      67,6<)7  68 

1849  »-   •  ■    'V'     .-.  vr-  «-^v.^  >,.;..   244,237  54     ,  -        100,968  77 

'^  This  embraces  siich  expenses  only  as  were  incurred  at  the  minej 
those  of  insurance,  commissions,  freights,  &c.,  are  excluded.  The 
cost  of  transportation  to  Boston  is  $15  per  ton;  to  Pittsburg,  $7  50.  The 
incidental  ejsppnses  amount  Jo  about  20  per  CQUt.,  in  addition  to  tiios^  of 

'i'he  company  nave  erected  the  necessary  works  at  Piltshiirg  for  smelt- 
ing and  refining  the  copper,  and  they  estimate  that  the  shipments  for  the 
year  ending  December,  1849,  will  amount  to  600  tons  of  refined  copper. 
,,,     The  product  of  silver  for  the  year  1849  was  ^2,365  30. 

The  following  table  exhibits  the  monthly  products  of  the  mine  for  the 
two  yeais  ending  December  1,  and  the  character  of  the  ore.     It  will  be 
seen  that,  while  the  amount  of  the  barrel  and  stamp- work  has  increased. 
,.  the  lunount  of  mass  copper  has  slishtly  diminished. 

-yioV'*.!  oii.'j  n^iocij  m  ,.:',.f-.  •/  •.»•,,{)  jf>  >t^.ij-;i.,^  [  nj<;n:  il".-.!   .ili  ,\[  Tah  oAT 

Ml!    i'r.'V  i-c     r.iii,;--i)   K;-v-    nft    I'lljlr     ^,>i:lv.   ■■nvvnr^   liW-  ih-'  y(\    i.-vn  tin 
f'_  01  jin!7..-((i    ••(••:'    i;.     ■i.;t-..  iJY  ■."•!•!  .  »   =:  ..•  .f't  (  *  '■•■III.  ;:•)•(  %■•>.  i"-'ii 

!:;!  ioiiitij 'UffK  ioj!4/>..  -ti  i^ntfi-iniif:   !..  '\\n  ,  .>iij  vf  ]■•  i  .-t.!   ■ ,,  l\l  .'.•.i'J 

'.  i  iit>\  U'thj  ijilt    iV    !.>llr(ff/>i  '...-I  ;,  '...M  Mv.-!    otU  ')■,  iiii'V'ii'  J  f'ilj    hiil  ^n;nl 

^  '>«!/  «i  .'ntn  fi  ftff.  -tnyi-'.-'ihtriK'  ','!'{'  .  .Inr.  -.fji  f«  '->  ■.!6i?n^  f)rh  1i;  11091!! 
nitf.  yf.'fo  rtiit  ptiiri-r^^*,,  ,.t  ■!.:!!q.,:,j5..  <,,  v  !(.M,-.- q'.i,  j  )!-rrri  c.iii  i^iiiahU;.'j.  if(V 
.'.iu«lltn.-j..<i%i!  fMi!".iJrrvf/ti'!  .K-  .'.'fiijilirri  'i.ii'  .i- (|i)o-;  . /,:;;i  .>,lt  yiniv.UO 
)U  JJfilfio  1'.!  iiMiiii'-.;,  fui  (iiv;  irjifvv  .•^ff!n'*:<j(|!;  yuu^'^AVi/  |.in.  ;:/'mt;rr'jift 
i..;'Ti;i  i>0-ijy!fii  od  /    1:  m'\-  mil  tf)  ^yH!!}'r.''>ni,ui<i  .,c\'V     .vmiith.-.'.vMoiin 


i;"r,t!f'v;,'(n  -^    f.;    ij'  -..ivv    ,<  .-f 


:noii()fn!'itni  •;iiiv/r){i.'t  offj 

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182 


Dgc.  No.  69. 


II'. -(ii 


North  American  mine. — This  mine  is  situated  in  the  NW.  quarter  of 
section  2,  township  67  N.,  range  32  W.  Its  geological  position  is  similar 
to  that  of  the  Cliff  mine  before  described,  both  being  in  the  same  range  of 
cliffs,  and  occupying  adjoining  quarter  sections.  The  veins,  however,  are 
distinct.  From  the  surface  to  the  point  B,  in  the  smaller  shaft,  the  lode 
dips  23°  below  the  horizon,  where  it  is  intersected  by  a  small  vein  or 
feeder,  beyond  which,  in  its  downward  course,  it  dips  but  one  foot  in  six. 
The  following  sketch  represents  a  cross-section  above  the  point  B.  Here,  the 

lode  was  found  to  be  of  Httle  value,  contracting  to 
a  foot  or  eighteen  inches  in  width,  and  affording 
stamp  work  of  an  inferior  quality.  Below,  it  in- 
creases in  width,  and  becomes  highly  metallifer- 
ous. At  the  point  C,  another  feeder  comes  in, 
which,  like  the  former,  enricfies  and  expands  the 
lode  still  further.  The  walls  are  very  variable. 
In  some  places,  they  contract  to  a  mere  fissure; 
again  they  expand  to  seven  feet.  This  expan- 
sion is  observed  where  the  vein  C  comes  into 
the  main  lode.  Through  the  entire  length  of  the  lower  level,  it  has  been 
found  good,  containing  in  some  places  mass  copper.  From  an  examina- 
tion at  the  depth  of  ninety-five  feet,  it  is  inferred  that  the  veinstone  is 
3  or  3^  per  cent,  richer  than  that  taken  from  the  second  level.  The  stamp- 
work,  at  present,  yields  about  7  per  cent.  This  estimate,  we  are  aware, 
is  3  per  cent,  lower  than  the  agent  rates  it.  From  every  bunch  of  ore 
containing  30  tons  there  are  taken  4  tons  of  what  is  called  barrel  work, 
yielding  40  per  cent,  of  copper,  and  the  addition  of  the  masses  at  60  per 
cent,  will  make  the  average  yield  of  the  contents  entire  not  far  from 
9J  per  cent. 

The  gross  amount  of  copper  taken  from  the  mine  during  the  past  year 
is  not  lar  from  1,400  tons,  which  will  yield  129^  tons  of  pure  copper. 

The  mine  has  not  been  opened  sufficiently,  except  within  the  last  seven 
months,  to  admit  workmen  to  advantage.  Thirty-five  tons  of  copper 
have  been  sent  to  market  during  the  past  season,  and  the  product  for  the 
next  season  may  be  safely  rated  at  200  tons.  When  fairly  opened,  it 
will  annually  yield  from  400  to  600  tons  of  pure  copper. 

The  stamps  connected  with  this  mine  are  the  best  hitherto  erected  in 
this  region.  They  are  driven  by  a  steam-engine,  and  with  eight  stampers 
are  capable  of  turning  out  80  or  90  tons  per  week. 

Appended  to  the  section  is  a  view  of  the  vein  as  it  appeared  at  the 
point  A,  in  the  lower  level,  180  feet  below  the  surface.  A  sneet  of  native 
copper,  one  foot  in  diameter,  was  seen  to  occupy  the  foot-wall,  and  to  ex- 
tend from  the  bottom  to  the  top  of  the  gallery.  The  other  portion  of  the 
vein,  one  foot  in  thickness,  was  composed  of  calc-spar,  quartz,  chlorite, 
and  epidote,  filled  Avith  small  spangles  of  copper.  Its  course  is  N.  58° 
W. — cutting  across  the  formation. 

This  mine  at  the  present  time  gives  employment  to  61  miners  and  24 
surface-men.  The  monthly  pay  of  the  former  amounts  in  each  case  to 
|24;  of  the  latter,  $20. 

These  workings  have  been  prosecuted  under  many  disadvantages  and 
discouragements;  but  through  the  emrgy  of  ?ur.  John  Bacon,  the  agent, 
they  have  been  overcome,  ;ind  the  company  a.re  in  the  possession  of  one 
of  the  most  valuable  mines  in  this  region.  » 


are. 


river, 


Doc.  No.  69. 


188 


uarter  of 
s  similar 

range  of 
ever,  are 

the  lode 
11  vein  or 
ot  in  six. 
Here,  the 
-acting  to 
affording 
)w,  it  in- 
netallifer- 
:omes  in, 
pands  the 

variable, 
e  fissure; 
is  expan- 
omes  into 
;  has  been 

examina- 
instone  is 
'he  stamp- 
are  aware, 
nch  of  ore 
irrel  work, 
i  at  60  per 
t  far  from 

past  year 
pper. 
ast  seven 
of  copper 
uct  for  the 
opened,  it 

erected  in 
It  stampers 

ired  at  the 
3t  of  native 
and  to  ex- 
lion  of  the 
z,  chlorite, 
is  N.  58° 

lers  and  24 
ach  case  to 

intages  and 

the    agcui) 

sion  of  one 


Minnesota  mine. — This  mine  is  situated  about  two  miles  east  of  the 
Ontonagon  river,  and  fifteen  miles  from  its  mouth,  (NW.  quarter  section 
15,  township  50  N.,  range  39  VV.)  The  trap  ranges  here  run  in  a  NB.  , 
and  SW.  direction,  and  attain  an  elevation  of  about  700  feet  above  the 
lake.  Like  the  range  of  Keweenaw  Point,  they  are  flanked  by  sandstone 
and  conglomerate,  dipping  northerly,  besides  containing  intercalated  beds 
of  these  detrital  rocks.  The  section  of  the  adit  appended  to  the  plan  of 
this  mine  shows  the  relation  of  one  of  these  sedimentary  beds  to  the 
igneous  formation. 

This  vein  belongs  to  a  system  totally  distinct  from  that  of  Keweenaw 
Point.  While  the  latter  system  crosses  the  formation  at  nearly  right  an- 
gles, the  former  has  a  course  and  inclination  nearly  conformable  to  (hose 
of  the  accompanying  sedimentary  rocks. 

The  inclination  of  this  vein  is  north  52°,  which  is  parallel  with  the 
sandstone  seen  at  the  base  of  the  hill.  ( Vide  section  of  the  adit  ^^e^ore 
referred  to.)  The  veinstone  consists  of  epidote,  chlorite,  quartz,  and  calc- 
spar,  distinct  in  character  from  tlie  wall-rock.  The  walls  of  the  vein 
are,  for  the  most  part,  well  defined,  exhibiting  the  grooved  and  polished 
appearance,  termed  by  the  Germans  slickenniffes.  Throughout  the  gangue, . 
copper  exists  in  masses,  bunches,  and  spangles.  Silver  occurs  in  places 
in  connexion  with  calc-spar  and  chlorite,  one  sj)eciinen  of  which  weighed 
eight  ounces.  In  the  spring  of  1849,  wet3xaniined  this  mine  before  any 
stopeing  had  been  done.  The  drift  had  been  extended  between  the  two 
shafts,  156  feet  apart.  At  the  point  of  intersection  between  shaft  No.  1 
and  the  drift,  a  mass  of  nearly  pure  copper  five  feet  in  thickness  was  ex- 
posed, occupying  the  hanging-wall.  A  few  feet  east,  it  was  observed  to 
change  its  position  and  occupy  the  foot- wall.  The  sheet  copper  appeared 
to  be  nearly  continuous  between  the  two  shafts.  The  width  of  the  veia 
at  the  point  where  the  level  intersects  the  shaft  No.  1  was  found  to  be 
eight  feet,  but  at  shaft  No.  2  contracted  to  three  feet.  This  increased 
width  is  due  to  a  feeder  or  branch  whicli  intersects  the  main  lode 
and  becomes  merged  with  it,  where  shaft  No.  1  is  sunk.  To  the  west  of 
this  point,  a  drift  has  since  been  extended  eighteen  feet  in  length  and 
thirty-eight  feet  below  tlie  surface.  Here,  the  vein  expands  to  eight 
feet,  and  is  almost  entirely  filled  in  with  sheets  of  native  copper. 
Shoots  branch  off  from  the  main  mass,  occupying  the  fissures,  so  as  to 
interpose  a  brazen  barrier  to  further  driving  in  that  direction.  These 
masses  can  only  be  reached  by  stopeing  from  the  adit-level  upward 
until  they  are  intersected,  and  then  driving  along  their  sides.  By  means, 
of  powerful  sand-blasts  placed  between  the  sheets  and  the  hanging-wall, 
they  can  be  thrown  down;  after  which,  a  great  amount  of  labor  remains 
to  be  performed,  in  catting  them  into  blocks,  so  that  they  may  be  removed 
to  the  surface,  where  they  must  undera;o  still  another  subdivision  into 
blocks  of  one  or  two  tons  weight,  that  they  may  be  transported  to  the 
river.  The  sheets  between  shafts  Nos.  1  and  2,  where  the  vein  was  stoped, 
yielded  no  masses  of  any  great  thickness.  At  shaft  No.  2,  42  feet 
below  the  surface,  a  mass  of  copper  was  struck,  and  the  sinking  contin- 
ued beside  it  to  the  depth  of  55  feet,  which  was  found  extending  into  the 
level  westerly.  Portions  of  this  mass  were  taken  down,  while  otlier  por- 
tions remain  on  the  hanging-wall.  These  points  are  indicated  by  the 
letters  M,  M.  Here,  the  vein  is  five  feet  in  width,  composed  not  en- 
tirely of  materials  distinct  from  the  wall-rock,  but  of  intercalated  portions 


134 


Dde.  No.  69. 


Fis.  521. 


^  ^'"uP;  TVT  /  Y^  character  of  the  vein  between  shafts  Nos.  1  and  2. 
In  shaft  No.  3,  180  feet  west,  the  vein  is  28  inches  in  thickness,  including 
the  rocky  portion,  and  presents  the  following  section: 

1 .  Quartz  and  chlorite,  with  copper  in  strings  and 
bunchps. 

2,  3.  Beds  of  rock,  similar  to  the  wall-rock,  with 
thin  sheets  of  copper  filling  the  seams,  in  sufficient 
abundance  to  pay  for  working  this  portion  of  the  vein. 

4.  Quartz,  chlorite,  calc-spar,and  epidote,  contain- 
ing a  large  per  centage  of  copper,  in  masses,  bunches, 
and  disseminated. 

In  certain  portions  of  the  lode,  these  beds  of  rock 
['disappear,  the  whole  matrix  being  filled  with  materials 
distinct  from  the  walls. 

According  to  the  statement  of  Mr.  Knapp,  the  agent  of  this  mine,  whose 
energy  and  zeal  in  exploring  this  tract  we  have  noticed  under  another 
head,  there  were  taken  from  this  mine,  last  year,  (1848,)  eleven  tons  of 
copper,  seven  and  a  half  of  which  were  included  in  the  mass  raised  by 
the  ancient  miners,  the  position  of  which  is  indicated  in  the  plan.  (See 
shaft  No.  1.) 

This  was  sent  to  market  before  the  company  had  fairly  commenced  ope- 
rations. During  the  past  season*,  there  have  been  taken  ftom  the  mine 
57  tons  of  copper,  in  masses,  estimated  at  75  per  cent.,  and  700  tons  of 
stamp- work,  estimated  at  6  per  cent.,  making  in  the  aggregate  84f  tons 
of  pure  copper — the  mass  of  the  veinstone  yielding  nearly  11|  per  cent. 
'I'here  are  now  exposed,  in  the  shafts  and  levels,  about  30  tons  hi  masses, 
besides  a  considerable  quantity  of  stamp  work. 

A  year  has  not  elapsed  since  this  mine  was  opened,  and  none  of  the 
shafts  have  been  extended  U'>  a  greater  depth  than  67  feet.  No  mine  in 
the  country  has  produced  so  great  an  amount  of  copper^  with  the  same 
-amount  of  labor  and  capital  expended.  We  cannot  find  its  parallel  in  the 
whole  histoiy  of  copper-mining,  wherever  prosecuted. 

Plan  of  the  mine. — An  adit-level  is  now  being  driven  from  the  base  of 
the  hill  to  intersect  the  vein,  at  nearly  right  angles  with  its  course,  at  shaft 
No.  3.  Its  length,  when  completed,  will  be  375  feet.  Thence,  it  will  be 
extended  -^^long  the  course  of  the  vein  so  as  to  strike  the  several  shafts. 
Shaft  No.  1  will  be  intersected  77  fe6t  below  the  surface;  shaft  No.  2,  at  87 
feet;  and  shaft  No.  3,  at  86  feet.  The  shaded  portions  represent  the  pre- 
sfent  workings,  while  the  light  portions  show  what  remains  to  be  accom- 
plished.   The  ancient  workings  are  indicated  by  a  series  of  oblique  lines. 

The  Minnesota  vein  can  be  traced  along  the  surface  for  the  distance  of 
a  mile  or  more,  and  in  this  respect  it  admits  of  the  employment  of  a 
gVeater  number  of  miners  than  any  vein  yet  discovered  in  the  copper  re- 
gion. The  containing  rock  is  a  dark«gray,  mottled  trap,  of  a  granular 
texture,  with  occasional  almond  shaped  cavities  through  it.  It  breaks  into 
rhomboidal  blocks,  and  readily  yields  under  the  drill.  Its  constituents  are 
hornblende,  feldspar,  and  chlorite. 

The  section  of  the  adit  protracted  300  yards  north  cuts  no  less  than  six 
veins,  some  of  which  conform  in  dip  to  the  vein  now  wrought,  while 
others  intersect  the  rocky  planes  perpendicularly. 

'The  company  now  employ  84  men,  about  one  half  of  whom  are  as- 
sfgned  to  the  mine,  while  the  other  half  are  employed  in  erecting  the 


Doc.  No.  69. 


m 


necessary  buildings.  These  will  consist  of  a  wliim-house,  a  house  for 
calcining  and  assorting  the  ore,  a  .stamping  and  washing-mill,  with  a 
saw-mill  attached.  They  iiave  already  erected  five  dwelling  houses, 
two  smitheries,  two  barns  and  other  out-buildings,  and  a  commodious 
warehouse,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Ontonagon.  They  have  constructed 
an  excellent  road  to  the  river,  2J  miles  distant,  and  cleared  and  culti- 
vated about  4o  acres  of  land.  They  raised  during  the  past  year  .'500 
bushels  of  potatoes,  300  bushels  of  turnips,  and  other  vegetables.  This 
work  seems  almost  iiioiodible,  when  it  is  considered  that,  a  year  ago, 
there  was  hardly  a  tree  felled  on  the  location,  hardly  a  cubic  foot  of  rock 
•excavated  from  the  vein. 

Northwest  mine. — This  mine  is  situated  on  Keweenaw  Point,  (section 
15,  township  58  N.,  range  30  W.,)  in  the  same  belt  of  trap  in  which 
are  contained  the  Clifl'  and  North  American  mines.  It  occurs  on  the 
southern  slope  of  the  northern  trap  range,  and  overlooks  the  valley  of 
the  Little  Montreal  river. 


Conglom- 
erate. 


^r::r..  1  M\t. 


12 


Ga 


90 


72 


The  above  sketch  will  convey  an  idea  of  the  nature  and  extent  of  the 
workings.  The  rock  is  a  dark  gray  compact  trap,  occasionally  amygda- 
loidal.  To  the  north  of  shaft  No.  4,  occurs  a  belt  of  conglomerate  about 
12  feet  in  thickness,  with  a  northerly  inclinatio;i  of  40°,  reposing  on  a 
brecciated  trap.  Within  a  space  of  300  yards  are  three  distinct  and  .well- 
defined  veins,  whose  bearing  and  underlie  are  as  follows:  | 

East  vein,  bearing  north  16^*^  east,  underlie  8°  east.  ,  | 

Middle  vein,   "  "      19°    west,      "       8°  west. 


"      12°  west. 


West  vein,      '^  "      17^    west, 

It  is  not  improbablr;  tliat  all  may  ultimately  be  found  to  converge  and 
form  a  single  lode  of  great  power.  The  main  workings  have  been  prose- 
cuted on  the  eastern  vein.  An  adit-level  has  been  driven  500  leet;  when 
extended  136  feet  farther,  it  will  intersect  shaft  No.  4,  at  the  depth  of  73 
feet.  Another  gallery  has  been  opened,  60  feet  below,  and  a  portion  of 
the  lode  removed,  the  stopeing  beiitg  represented  by  the  shaded  lines. 
The  vein,  along  the  course  of  the  adit,  is  well  denned,  and  varies  in 
width  from  a  ict^fr  inches  to  two  feet.  In  the  northern  part,  where  the 
present  workings  are  prosecuted,  it  expands  to  2\  feet,  and  is  highly 
charged  with  copper. 

At  the  northern  extremity  of  the  second  level,  the  vein  is 31  inches  in 
width.  At  the  bottom  of  shaft  No,  3,  90  feet  from  the  surface,  the  vein 
is  bbservcd  to  have  a  greater  expansion  than  at  any  intermediate  point. 


136 


Doc.  No.  69J 


IJ,    t  *      r* 

I  ]'  i 


i^  .  f 


'     i 


Its  impregnation  appears  to  have  taken  place  at  two  different  periods .  The 
western  seam  is  composed  of  chlorite  and  calc  spar,  with  but  little  quartz; 
the  copper  occuring  disseminated  and  in  thin  plates.  The  eastern  seam  is 
composed  of  quartz  and  calc-spar,  with  but  little  clilorite — the  copper 
occurring  in  masses,  bunches,  and  strings. 

Where  the  fissure  was  observed  to  be  subsident,  tha  walls  came  almost 
in  contact.  Where,  on  the  other  hand,  the  fissure  was  nearly  perpen- 
dicular, the  vein  had  the  widest  expansion. 

Two  shafts  have  been  sunk  on  the  west  vein,  each  to  the  depth  of  50 
feet.  From  one  of  these  a  level  has  been  extended  80  feet,  and  a 
portion  of  the  lode  removed,  and  masses  weighing  a  ton  and  upwards 
have  been  taken  down.  Tiiis.  vein  promises  to  be  of  great  value. 
The  product  of  this  mine,  according  to  the  best  information,  up  to  the 
present  time,  has  been  50  tons  of  mass  copper,  yielding  50  per  cent., 
and, 500  tons  of  S  per  cent,  stamp-work.  The  present  force  employed 
consists  of  53  miners  and  42  surfacemen. 

Copper  Falls''  mine. — The  old  mine  is  bituated  on  the  northern  slope  of 
the  trap  range,  about  two.  milo.s  from  the  lake  shore.  Within  that  space 
there  are  four  alternations  of  trap  and  conglomerate.  The  belt  in  which 
the  lode  is  situated  is  only  a  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  thickness,  and  dips 
northerly  at  an  angle  of  33°.  A  belt  of  conglomerate  reposes  upon  it,, 
forming  the  northern  slope  of  the  hill;  while  a  belt  of  metamorphosed 
sandstone,  fifty  feet  or  more  in  thickness,  occurs  below.  The  annexed 
sketch  illustrates  the  relative  position  of  the  igneous  and  aqueous  rocks. 


B 


Fig.  23. 
C 


E 


;__,  r^.-r-ff^^^  fdr:L.r'.P'^^^'^i^'n:h 


So  long  as  the  workings  were  confined  to  the  belt  of  trap,  the  vein  was 
productive — yielding  stamp-work  and  masses,  the  largest  of  which 
Aveighed  12  tons.  On  striking  the  sandstone,  however,  it  was  observed  to 
change  in  its  mineral  contents  and  richness.  The  shaft  E,  has  been  ex- 
tended through  the  sandstone  into  the  belt  of  trap  below,  and  the  fissure- 
appeared  to  be  continuous  through  the  different  ibruiations;  but  at  the 
depth  of  6  feet  in  the  sandstone,  ih&vein  had  contracted  to  four  inches.. 
Shortly  aftor  the  intersection  it  was  observed  to  branch — one  branch  dip- 
ping rapidly  to  the  west,  and  the  other  to  the  east.  The  shaft  was  con- 
tinued perpendicularly  through  the  sandstone,  thus  losing  sight  of  both 
branches.  On  reaching  (he  lower  belt  of  trap,  a  drift  was  extended  to 
the  right  and  left,  to  the  distance  of  18  feet,  without  intersecting  either 
branch:  In  this  stao^e  the  workings  were  susf^nded.  It  is  desu'able 
to  hrtve  these  workings  continued  still  further,  as  they  will  solve  one  of 


Siind- 
Btone. 


ssure 
at  the 
iches .. 
1  dip- 
con- 
bolli 
led  to 
either 
jirable 
one  pf 


Ddc.  No.  69. 


ni 


the  most  interesting  problems  in  the  mineral  region— t.  e.,  the  changes 
Avhich  veins  undergo  in  their  passage  through  difi'erent  mineral  planes. 

The  company  are  now  developing  a  vein  between  sections  11  and  12, 
Icnown  as  the  Childs  vein.  Its  geological  position  is  the  same  in  refer- 
ence to  the  sandstone  as  the  one  before  described.  It  bears  east  of  south, 
and  dips  westerly.  A  few  feet  to  the  west,  another  vein  can  be  traced 
along  the  surface,  in  which  may  be  seen  pits  which  were  sunk  by  the 
ancient  miners.  An  adit  has  been  commenced,  which  will  be  extended 
256  feet,  when  it  will  intersect  the  shaft  on  the  Childs  vein  at  the  depth 
of  64  feet,  and  in  its  progress  develop  the  other  vein. 

The  belt  of  trap  is  much  wider  at  tbis  point  than  at  the  abandoned 
mine.  In  sinking  the  shaft,  some  masses  of  copper  were  found  weigliing 
from  thirty  to  fifty  pounds;  but  the  disseminated  coppeT  was  incon- 
siderable. 

Near  the  centre  of  section  12  is  another  vein,  on  which  a  shaft  has  been 
sunk  to  the  depth  of  thirty-seven  feet,  without  having  developed  much 
copper.  The  vein  is  about  a  foot  in  width,  the  gangue  of  which  consists 
of  calcareous  spar,  with  traces  of  chlorite.  The  shaft  is  in  the  upper 
portion  of  the  trap  belt  which  underlies  the  sandstone  at  the  old  works, 
and  takes  into  its  composition  a  largo  ju'oportion  of  chlorite. 

Thirty  rods  to  the  south-southwest  is  another  vein  of  much  greater 
promise.  The  course  is  nearly  north  and  south,  and  the  matrix  consists 
of  prehnite,  higbly  charged  with  particles  of  copper. 

The  total  product  of  this  mine  up  to.  the  present  time  is  as  follows: 

Copper  masses  and  barrel-work,  averaging  70  per  cent.  -  W,  959  lbs. 
Stamp- work,  averaging  10  per  cent.         -  -  -      497,500   *< 

Total 588,459    '« 

T/ie  Northwestern  mine  is  situated  in  the  same  trap  belt  a»  the  North- 
west— the  same  stratum  of  conglomerate  showing  itself  near  the  brow  of 
the  hill.  It  is  in  section  21,  townsbip58  north,  range  58  west.  The  vein 
crosses  the  formation,  bearing  northerly.  Two  trial  shafts  have  been  sunk 
to  the  depth  of  twenty  four  and  thirty-six  feet  respectively,  which  yielded 
copper,  in  Riasses  and  disseminated,  in  considerable  abundance.  The  in- 
dications are  that  this  is  a  vein  of  much  power,  and  the  company  in 
possession  ought  to  test  it  thoroughly. 

Phoinix,  formerly  Lake  Superior,  mine  occurs  in  the  bed  of  Eagle 
river,  about  a  niilo  above  its  embouchure.  This  tract  was  among  the 
first  located  in  thit>  'egion,  and  this  company*  among  the  first  to  embark 
in  mining  adventure^.  In  the  early  days  oi  copper-mining,  this  lode  was 
represented  as  possessing  unparalleled  richness — the  silver  far  exceeding 
the  copper  in  value;  and  tliese  representations  contributed  powerfully 
toAvards  the  creation  and  maintenance  of  the  copper  mania Avhich  prevailed 
for  a  time  throughout  the  eastern  cities.  The  most  extravagant  ex- 
pectations were  formed,  and  the  most  exaggerated  statements*  made,  as  to 
the  mineral  wealth  of  the  country.  Many  were  doomed  to  a  speedy  and 
bitter  disappointment;  but  the  ultimate  effects  have  been  to  divert  capital 
into  a  new  and  untried  channel,  and  develop  the  mineral  wealth  of  a 

*  Ths  first  report  of  ihe  trustees  contains  a  statement  of  the  result  of  an  assay  as  follows : 


In  a  ton  of  rock 
Silver,  153.56  pounds,  valued  at 
Coi)per,  903.57  pounds,  valued  at 


$3,053  20 
83  57 


tS,136  77 


1^ 


Doc.  No.  69. 


I:   il 


jpresentation 


-  > 


remain 


region  which,  but  forthes 
long  time  unexplored. 

This  vein,  as  before  remarked,  is  situated  about  a  mile  from  the  lake 
shore;  and  between  these  two  points  there  are  no  less  than  seventeen 
alternations  of  trap  and  conglomerate.  From  the  fact  that  veins  exhibit 
great  disturbance  and  great  variableness  in  their  metallic  contents  in 
thoir  passage  through  different  belts  of  rock,  it  is  evident  that  the  best 
mining-grcand  lies  south  of  these  alternations.  In  that  direction,  how- 
ever,  it  is  circumscribed  by  a  belt  of  hard,  crystalline  greenstone,  in 
which  the  veins  are  seldom  well  developed. 

The  lode  is  seen  in  the  bed  of  the  stream  about  a  thousand  feet  above 
the  main  shaft,  where  it  is  distinctly  marked.  The  matrix  consists  of 
calc-spar,  prehnite,  and  radiated  quartz,  containing  native  copper  in  strings 
and  disseminated.  It  is  iiom  one  to  two  feet  in  width,  and  bears  north 
17°  east;  with  a  slight  dip  to  the  east.  Thence  it  is  to  be  traced  down 
the  stream,  occasionally  concealed  by  loose  rocks  and  gravel.  In  the 
winter  of  1844,  a  trial  shaft  was  commenced  at  this  point;,  on  the  left  bank 
of  tlie  stream.  This,  however,  had  been  prosecuted  only  to  the  depth  of 
twenty  leet,  when  it  was,  under  the  direction  of  the  mining  engineer, 
abandoned,  and  another  shaft  commenced  further  down  the  stream.  Here 
there  a\  as  no  appearance  of  a  vein;  no  gangue  distinct  from  the  wall-rock; 
no  powerful  fissure  to  indicate  the  dislocation  of  the  mab-s;  no  polished 
surfaces  on  the  face  of  the  cliff.  The  true  position  of  the  vein  was  several 
feet  to  the  eu^t,  in  the  bed  of  the  stream;  but  it  was  not  apparent,  from  the 
accumulation  of  water-worn  materials.  The  shaft  was  sunk  through  a 
dark  brown  amygdaloid,  with  little  adhesion  between  the  particles — the 
amygdules  being  filled  in  places  with  native  copper,  exhibiting  occasional 
points  of  silver.  This  peculiarity  could  be  traced  for  a  distance  of  eleven 
feet  from  the  stream,  becoming  less  apparent  as  it  receded  from  the  bank. 
On  the  immediate  bank,  however,  the  rock  was  less  amygdaloidal,  and 
took  in  a  larger  proportion  of  chlorUe.  The  change  in  the  location^of  the 
shaft  was  injudicious  in  two  respects:  1.  The  old  shaft  was  on  the  vein, 
and,  had  it  been  prosecuted,  would  have  proved  it,  while  the  new  shaft 
was  not  on  the  vein,  but  to  the  west  of  it.  2.  It  was  located  so  near  the 
river  bank,  that  the  water  percolating  through  the  fissures  proved  a  con- 
stant source  of  annoyance,  in  the  progress  of  the  work. 

In  his  report  to  the  company,  the  mining  cngineerropresents  the  vein  as 
eleven  feet  in  width — a  vein  of  greater  power  than  any  three  thus  far 
discovered  in  this  region — eighteen  hundred  feet  in  length,  as  far  as  known, 
and  containing  an  amount  of  ore,  already  exposed,  which  could  not  bo 
exhausted  within  the  present  generation.*  Its  richness  was  unparalleled. 
As  the  shall  was  continued  downward,  the  indications  of  copper  became 
less  apparent,  until  finally  they  disappeared  altogether,  and  nothing  was 
brought  up  but  barren  rock. 

Al  tlie  depth  of  60  feet,  if  we  mistake  not,  the  miners  came  to  a  pocket  in  the 
rock  filled  with  gravel  and  water- worn  accumulations.    They  then  drifted 

•  We  quote  from  the  report:  "The  whole  known  length  of  the  vein  isuboui  eighteen  hundred 
feet.  Its  width  is  salisfactorily  proved  lo  be  tlevtnfiet  for  the  distmue  of  two  hundrtdftel;  and  it  ia 
probable  that  il  will  hold  a  workable  widtli  ihroughoul  the  eighteen  hundred  fett.  ll  is  obvious 
that  thr.reis  an  adequate  <juan»ity  of  rii'h  ore  in  this  vein  to  render  the  work  very  proHtabie,  and 
that  there  is  no  danger  of  exhuuitiiiK  the  ore,  even  should  it  ^ive  out  at  the  depth  of  onu  hundred 
feet,  of  which  there  ia  no  probability.  <  •  •>  If  the  ore  runs  oat  at  a  considerable  depth,  Hay 
two  hundred  feet,  it  will  "be  n  matter  of  little  imporiuiice  to  tht  jtrtsent  generation,  Ihovgk  it  mi^M 
h*  lo  pvtttrity." 


Doc.  No.  69. 


139 


i  for  a 

e  lake 
enteen 
exhibit 
snts  ill 
he  best 

I,  how- 
ne,   in 

t  above 
isists  of 
I  strings 
rs  north 
\  down 
In  the 
eft  bank 
depth  of 
ngineer, 

II.  Here 
all-rock; 
polished 
s  several 
from  the 
lirough  a 
;les— the 
;casional 
if  eleven 

[he  bank, 
idal,  and 
lon^f  the 
[the  vein , 
lew  sbalt 
near  the 
Id  a  con- 

le  \ein  as 
thus  far 
|is  known, 
lid  not  be 
paralleled. 
W  became 
[hing  was 

tketinthe 
[en  diifted 

leen  hundred 
!«/;  and  it  ia 
(it  ia  obvious 
kfitable,  and 
J  on«  hundred 
lie  depih,  «»>• 
jli  it  migbl 


under  the  bed  of  the  stream  inpursuitof  the  vein,  but  were  unsuccessful. 
In  removing  the  water-worn  materials,  they  found  numerous  boulders  of 
copper,  varying  in  weight  from  half  an  ounce  to  COO  pounds — so  numer- 
ous, indeed,  that  portions  of  the  gravel  were  profitably  washed  for  the 
metallic  contents.  In  this  connexion  was  also  found  a  mass  of  native 
silver  weighing  eight  pounds — the  largest  yet  discovered  in  this  region. 
The  main  shaft  was  carried  to  the  depth  of  75  feet,  whes  the  workings 
were  suspended;  nor  have  they  since  been  resumed. 

That  there  is  a  vein  of  great  richness  oti  that  location,  and  in  the  vi. 
cinity  of  the  present  workings,  is  evidenced  by  the  numerous  water  worn 
masses  of  copper  found  in  the  bed  of  the  stream.  They  have  not  come 
from  far.  As  the  matrix  of  the  vein  is  more  yielding  than  the  associated 
rocks,  it  frequently  proscribes  the  direction  of  a  stream  and  forms  its  bed. 
That  will  probably  be  found  the  case  here.  The  pocket  before  de- 
scribed was  excavai.  1  by  the  agency  of  the  stream  in  the  gangue  of  the 
vein. 

The  west  vein  on  this  location,  known  as  Sheffield  <fc  Nott's,  is 
about  11  inches  in  width,  and  bears  north  19°  west.  The  veinstone  con- 
sists of  chlorite  and  calc-spar,  traversing  greenstone,  resting  on  a  porous 
amygdaloid.  A  trial  shaft  has  been  sunk,  which  aflbrded  indications  of 
considerable  value. 

Lac  la  Belle  mine — Bohemian  mine. — The  workings  of  these  com- 
panies have  been  prosecuted  on  the  same  vein— those  of  the  former  in 
the  base  of  the  Bohemian  mountain,  those  of  the  latter  on  its  summit. 

This  mountain  rises  to  the  height  of  8(34  feet  above  l*ac  la  Belle,  and 
from  its  summit  is  afforded  a  view  of  great  extent  and  beauty.  The  rock 
consists  of  chlodte  and  feldspar  of  a  highly  crystalline  texture,  and  ap- 
pears to  be  of  an  age  posterior  to  the  bedded  trap  in  which  the  mines  be- 
fore described  are  situated,  since  these  beds  are  found  dipping  from  it 
like  the  strata  of  detrital  rocks.  It  was  protruded  in  vast  irregular  masses, 
forming  a  continuous  line  of  elevation.  The  metallic  contents  of  this 
rock  are  entirely  distinct  from  those  of  the  bedded  trap.  While  the  latter 
is  characterized  by  veins  of  native  copper,  the  former  abounds  in  the 
sulplmrels  of  copper,  such  as  the  gray  .and  black  sulphuret  and  copper- 
pyrites. 

Two  sets  of  veins  have  been  observed — one  bearing  north  26^°  west, 
which  appear  to  bo  t!ie  main  ones,  and  anoriier  bearing  north  80°  east. 
The  gangue  consists  of  calc-spar,  chlorite,  and  qnnrtz.  Two  shafts  have 
been  sunk  near  the  summit  of  the  hill — one, to  the  depth  of  106  feet,  the 
other  to  the  depth  of  75  feet — without  developing  a  rich  vein. 

The  Lac  la  Belle  Company  extended  a  drift  into  the  hill,  309  feet 
above  the  lake  level,  to  the  disiance  of  nearly  400  feet.  They  found  the 
vein  18  inches  in  width,  and  rich  in  the  sulphurets.  Their  main  efforts, 
however,  have  been  concentrated  on  an  adit  which  starts  vJ5  feet  i  hove 
the  level  of  the  lake,  and  has  been  driven  900  feet.  As  they  have>  cb- 
ably  left  the  main  vein  in  the  prosecution  of  the  work,  its  value  cat  rot 
be  determined  at  this  depth  without  a  cross-cut. 

No  place  on  Lake  Superior  affords  greater  facilities  for  mining;  and  the 
efforts  of  the  company  deserve  to  be  crowned  with  success. 

Quincy  tnine  is  situated  near  Portage  lake,  on  section  26,  township  65, 
range  34.  The  surface  of  the  country  rises  somewhat  abruptly  from  tho 
water,  not  in  Lroken  cliffs,  but  rounded  hills.    The  elevation  of  this 


"I 
S 


'  'm 


140 


Doc.  No.  69. 


mine  is,  by  estimation.  400  feet.  The  rock  is  a  dark-brown  trap,  com- 
posed of  hornblende,  feldspar,  and  chlorite.  The  vein  bears  north  43^^ 
cast,  and  dips  rapidly  to  the  north,  corresponding  with  the  course  of  the 
formation— tha  on^y  instance  of  the  kind  observed  on  Keweenaw  Point. 
A  string  or  branch  was  observed  in  a  ravine  near  by,  bearing  north  45° 
west,  which  jielded  native  copper  in  sheets  cf  considerable  size.  This 
mine,  at  the  time  of  our  visit,  had  not  been  sufficiently  developed  to  en- 
al  e  us  to  form  an  opinion  as  to  its  value. 

Forsyth  mine  occurs  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  33,  township 
57;  range  32.  The  vein,  which  bears  north  9^°  west,  is  distinctly'  seen 
cutting  a  hill,  which  rises  a  hundred  feet  above  the  surrounding  plain. 
Two  years  ago,  a  shaft  was  sunk  to  the  depth  of  70  feet,  and  two  others  to- 
an  inconsidorable  depth,  since  which  time  the  work  has  been  abandoned. 
As  the  waier  had  filled  these  excavations,  it  was  impossible  for  us  to  ex^ 
amine  the  vein  critically.  From  the  veinstone  brought  to-day,  copper  in 
sheets  and  disseminated  was  found  in  considerable  abundance.  Native 
silver  was  also  found  in  this  association  to  an  extent  thus  far  unobserved 
in  any  other  mine  on  Lake  Superior.  The  external  indications  here  are 
favorable;  but  we  are  not  advised  whether  the  company  purpose  resuming 
operations. 

Albion  mine  is  situated  in  the  same  bluffs  as  the  Cliff  and  North  Ameri- 
can, on  section  11,  township  57,  range  32.  The  cliff,  which  attains  an 
elevation  of  nearly  800  feet  above  the  lake,  is  composed  of  a  hard 
crystalline  greenstone,  passing  into  a  porphyry,  where  the  crystals  of 
feldspar  are  imbedded  in  a  matrix  of  hornblende.  On  the  western  slope, 
a  thin  but  well-marked  vein,  filled  with  arsenical,  pyritous  copper,  is  ob- 
served occupying  a  depression  in  the  soil  for  a  distance  of  80  rods,  Mr. 
Stevens,  the  agent  of  the  company,  informs  us  that  at  either  end  it 
branches  into  numerous  strings  and  becomes  lost. 

On  the  southeast  side  of  the  bluff,  a  shaft  has  been  sunk  to  the  depth 
of  one  hundred  feet,  striking  the  amygdaloid  at  the  depth  of  97  feet, 
from  the  bottom  of  which  a  drift  was  extended  into  the  hill  along  the 
course  of  the  vein.  The  workings  have  not  been  prosecuted  sufficiently 
to  determine  its  value.  This  vein  bears  north  46°  west.  Its  matrix 
consists  of  calc-spar  and  chlorite,  with  thin  scales  of  native  copper,  and 
is  about  18  inches  in  width. 

Forest  mine. — This  mine  is  situated  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
36,  township  50,  range  40,  within  the  limits  of  what  is  known  as  the 
"  Cushman  location,"  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Ontonagon  river.  The 
old  workings,  under  the  dird'ction  of  Cushman,  on  the  north  half  of  sec- 
tion 36,  do  not  appear  to  have  developed  veins  of  much  value.  They 
have  been  described  in  a  preceding  part  of  this  report. 

<'The  Dutch  vein,"  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  31,  has  been 
explored  to  the  depth  of  about  fifty  feet.  Its  course  is  northr  70°  east, 
ranging  with  the  formation;  its  inclination,  40°  below  the  horizon.  The 
veinstone  is  composed  of  epidote  and  quartz,  twelve  feet  in  thickness, 
with  thin  plates  of  copper  disseminated  through  the  mass,  affording  indi- 
cations of  considerable  promise. 

In  the  chapter  on  ancient  mining  we  have  described  with  some  minute- 
ness the  pits  and  excavations  found  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 


com- 
h  43= 
tif  the 
Point, 
tli  45° 

This 
to  en- 

vnship 
^r  seen 

plain, 
ihers  ta 
doned. 
\  to  exi 
ipper  in 

Native 
bserved 
[lere  are 
isuming 

1  Aineri- 
lains  an 
a  hard 
ystals  of 
rn  slope, 
r,  is  ob- 
is. Mr. 
r  end  it 

le  depth 

97  feet,. 

long  the 

fficiently 

matrix 

iper,  and 

)f  section 

In  as  the 

ir.    The 

If  ol  sec- 

They 

[has  been 
bo*'  east, 
In.  The 
Ihicknesa, 
ling  indi- 

minute- 
)f  section 


Doc.  No.  69. 


141 


30,  and  on  section  31. 
Fig.  24. 


The  following  sketch  may  be  regarded  as  an 

,    approximaiive  representation  of  the 

contour  of  the  cliff,  and  of  the  position 

of  the  veins  on  the  latter  tract.    The 

-._,,„    inclination  of  the  main  lode  is  78°. 

The  ancient  miners  had  excavated  to 


the  depth  of  19  feet,  and  this  has  been  continued  by  the  adventurers  to  the 
depth  of  23  feet.  The  two  veins  to  the  south,  from  their  inclination,  prob- 
ably  intersect  the  main  one  at  points  below  the  23-foot  excavation. 
Should  the  inclination  be  found  to  continue  cutting  the  strata  or  bands  in 
the  same  plane,  it  will  present  the  same  phenomena  as  the  main  veins  in 
Cornwall.  A  section  of  the  vein,  as  it  appears  in  the  shaft,  is  appended. 
The  wall-rocks  are  composed  of  amygdaloid  and  granular  trap,  with  a,largo  ' 
admixture  of  chlorite.    The  vein,  which  is  about  three  feet  in  width,  is 

composed  of  the  following  materials,  and  arranged  in 

this  order: 

1.  A  seam  of  laumonite  an  inch  in  width. 

2.  Calc-spar,  quartz,  chlorite,  and  epidote,with  copper 
in  bunches  and  disseminated. 

3.  Carbonate  of  copper,  probably  the  result  of  atmos- 
pheric changes. 

4.  Epidote,  chlorite,  and  amygdaloidal  trap. 

5.  Masses  of  copper  associated  with  spar,  quartz,  and 
|l'"  epidote. 

To  the  east  of  this  shaft  another  has  been  commenced, 
at  the  bottom  of  one  of  the  ancient  excavations.  At  this  point  the  vein  exhib- 
its very  much  the  same  appearance,  having  the  same  inclination,  and-yield- 
ingcopperin  considerable  abundance.  Few  veins  in  the  mineral  region  have 
been  opened  which,  on  the  surface,  afforded  indications  of  gneater  promise. 

Ohio  Trap  Rock  mine. — The  workings  at  this  point  have  been  described 
with  some  minuteness  in  a  preceding  part  of  this  report,  and  it  would  be 
superfluous  to  repeat  the  information  there  given. 

Adventure  mine — southwest  quarter  of  section  36,  and  southeast  quarter 
of  section  35,  township  51,  range  38,  in  the  Algonquin  mountains.  A 
cliff  rises  to  the  height  of  more  than  150  feet  above  the  surrounding 
country,  and  to  the  south  presents  a  bold  mural  escarpment,  while  to  the 
north  it  slopes  gradually  towards  the  lake.  The  rock  is  a  hard,  crystalline 
greenstone,  somewhat  porphyritic,  traversed  by  occasional  strings  or 
seams,  filled  in  with  calc-spar  and  epidote,  associated  with  native  cop- 
per. We  saw  no  well- developed  vein — nothing  to  indicate  a  permanent 
supply  of  metal.  A  shaft  has  been  sunk  on  one  of  these  strings  to  the 
depth  of  20  feet,  near  the  brow  of  the  cliff. 

The  Ridge  mine  is  situated  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  35, 
township  51,  range  38,  and  is  in  the  same  axis  of  upheaval.  Workings 
have  been  prosecuted  only  to  a  limited  extent.  The  ground  in  the  vicinity 
exhibits  numerous  pits — the  work  of  a  former  generation.  At  one  point 
a  vein  is  ex^x)sed,  included  within  a  feldspar  and  hornblende  rock,  dipping 
to  the  north,  which  affords  copper  in  strings  and  disseminated.  This 
vein,  like  inott  of  the  veins  in  the  region  between  Portage  lake  and  the 
Ontonagon  rivi  r,  has  a  bearing  and  dip  corresponding  with  tlie  adjacent 
stratiued  rocks. 

2'ha  Aztec  Mining  Company  occupy  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
36;  township  51,  range  38,  and  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  31,  and 


'ri 


ml 

Pll 


142 


Doc.  No.  I&9. 


the  southwest  quarter  of  section  30,  township  /jI,  range  37.  The  point 
where  mining  operations  have  been  commenced  is  on  tlie  northeast  quarter 
of  section  31.  A  veil)  is  seen  near  the  brow  of  a  i-.litr,  bearing  west- 
southwest,  and  dipping  to  the  north  at  an  angle  of  46°.  It  has  not  been 
sulficiently  opened  to  enable  one  to  forni  an  opinion  of  its  value. 

T/ie  Douglass  Hou^fUcn  mine  is  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  15, 
township  T)] ,  range  37.  Two  years  ago  the  vein  was  opened  to  the  depth 
of  40  feet,  when  liuther  operations  were  abandoned,  but  the  work  has  been 
resumed,  imder  the  direction  of  Mr.  C.  C.  Douglass,  one  of  the  most 
efficient  mining  engineers  in  the  region.  The  vein,  which  traverses  a  com- 
pact chlorite  trap,  is  about  three  feet  in  width,  running  nearly  north  and 
south,  conforming  to  the  general  direction  of  the  ridge  at  this  place,  and 
dipping  west  60°.  They  have  diiven  a  level  about  25  fi^et  along  its  course, 
ancl  a  considerable  quantity  of  copper  has  been  obfairiod.  The  vein- 
stone removed  was  rich  in  disseminated  and  string  cop[)er,  and  will  yield 
from  S  to  Vi  per  cent,  of  metal.  Quartz,  much  of  whi^h  is  colored  red 
with  the  sub-oxide  of  copper,  ibmas  (he  principal  portion  of  the  matrix, 
which  is  traversed  by  numerous  seams  of  chlorite.  The  vein  is  well 
defined,  and  affords  indications  of  proving  highly  valuable. 

The  Algonquin  viine  is  on  section  30,  township  62,  range  37.  It  has 
been  temporarily  abandoned  for  the  last  two  years,  and  no  work  worthy  of 
description  has  been  done  here.  All  of  the  information  in  our  possession 
will  be  found  under  the  hpad  of  "Geology  of  the  trap  region." 

The  Pittsbiirs'  and  Isle  Royale  Company  are  developing  a  vein  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  12,  township  65,  range  36,  near  Todd's 
Harbor,  Isle  Royale.  The  follbwing  diagram  will  represent  the  present 
condition  of  the  work: 


Fig.  26 


B  ■■'■>   ■\ 


The  vein  traverses  a  hard, 
crystalline   greenstone,  bear- 
ing N.  20°  K.,  with  an  under- 
lie of  12°  to  the  east.     Shaft 
No.  1,  has  been  sunk  upon  it 
««^  to  the  depth  of  63  feet.   Shaft 
'    A  No.  2,  reaches  to  the  depth  of 
67  feet.    Adit  No.  1,  starts 
from  the  water's  edge,  and 
The  second  level  connect- 


intersects  the  shaft  at  tJie  distance  of  42  feet.     

ing  the  two  shafts  is  113  feet  in  length.  Near  the  surface  the  vein  appears 
pinched— attaining  a  width  of  only  a  few  inches;  but  at  the  extremity  of 
the  113  foot  adit,  and  50  feet  below  the  surface,  it  expands  to  a  width  of 
18  inches,  and  presents  the  following  section: 

1.  Sheet  of  native  copper,  varying  from  one-half  to  one 
and  a  half  inches  in  width,  and  nearly  continuous,  occu- 
pying the  foot-wall. 

2.  Veinstone  of  calc-spar,  quartz,  prehnite,  and  lau- 
inonite,  with  diffused  copper. 

At  the  entrance  of  the  driflthe  sheet  copper  is  observed 
to  occupy  the  hanging-wall,  but  it  very  soon  crosses  the 
vein  and  continues  in  contact  with  the  foot  wall  so  far  as 
it  is  explored. 

Tiiis  is  the  best  developed  vein  we  have  observed  iti  the  hard  rock.  At 
the  entrance  of  Todd's  Harhor  a  belt  of  amygdaloid  of  a  reddish-browQ 


Ooc.  No.  69. 


143 


;  point 
quarter 
;  vcst- 
Dt  been 

lion  15, 
,e  depth 
as  been 
le  most 
3  a  com- 
rtU  and 
icc,  and 
5  course, 
le  vein- 
all  yield 
ored  red 
J  matrix, 
I  is  well 

It  has 

wovtliy  of 
■ossession 

in  on  the 
tr  Todd's 
le  present 

es  a  hard, 
>ne,  bear- 
an  nnder- 
st.    Shaft 
Ilk  upon  it 
bet.   Shaft 
le  depth  of 
1,  starts 
edge,  and 
•1  connect- 
in  appears 
Jremity  of 
a  width  of 

Valf  to  one 
[ous,  occu- 

and  lau- 

Is  observed 
Trosses  the 
tu  so  far  ss 


Id  rock-  At 
llish-browu 


color  is  ohseiTed  dipping  under  the  greenstone  at  an  angle  of  45^;  and  if 
the  shafts  are  protracted  lo  a  sutUciciit  depth,  ilicy  will  in.crsert  it,  when 
the  voiti  will  probably  l)e  found  to  undergo  souje  modificaliou. 
^  The  company  have  sent  to  market  4,4S.3poundsof  copper,  which  yi(;klod 
To  per  cent,  of  pure  copper.  Tlie  ma.ss  of  the  veinstone,  however,  will  not 
yield  1.0  per  cent. 

The  largest  mass  of  natis'e  copper  taken  from  this  lode  weighod  about 
700  pounds. 

The  oompany  now  employ  in  and  about  the  mine  '20  men.  who  are 
pressing  on  the  work  vigorously,  and  with  very  fair  prospects  of  .success. 

Siskmpii  mine  adjoins  Rock  Harbor,  Isle  Royale,  and  ocmrs  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  lo,  township  05,  range  34.  The  v^ia  boars 
nearly  east  ;md  west,  witii  an  inclination  of  75°  to  the  horlh.  Tor  forty 
feet  in  its  downward  course  it  cuts  a  bell  of  dark,  granular  trap,  conqxised 
of  horiiblendo,  chtdiite,  nnd  feldspor,  after  which  it  intersoc'i.s  a  belt  of 
columnar  trap.  While  confined  to  the  granular  trap,  the  vein  was  well 
uovjlo{)ed,and  yielded  considerable  copper  in  nuusses  and  staniiiwork;  IhU 
having  entered  the  colnnniar  trap,  it  contracted  to  a  mere  fissure,  the  \cin- 
stoue  and  metallic  contents  disappearing.     The  subjoined  sketch  repre- 


Fig.  28. 


'.U'.lill'"     >' 


M----. 


•■:;i'-i.. 


sents  the  workings.  Two  shafts 
have  been  smik  through  the 
chlorite  trap,  intersecting  the 
columnar  trap  in  oiie  instance 
at  the  depth  of  35  feet,  and  in 
the  other  at  40  feet.    West  from 


R  l^t^JjE^^lFri^>4-(('(:!f'  WSIf^fi'i:t^-  s^^afl  No.  2,  1,800  feet,  another 
\ri<t..i-^u^..:ir^-^^,it-^%y^:^..',r>^:^f3^.  "'-^    shaft    has    been    conmrenred. 


The  veinstone  consists  of  calc-spar,  chlorite,  and  epidt)te,  with  copper 
disseminated  in  small  scales  and  points;  also  in  masses,  the  largest. of 
which  observed  by  us  weighed  350  pounds. 

This  company  hf»ve  other  tracts  on  the  northern  side  of  isle  T?oyale 
which  contain  veins,  but,  as  they  haA-^e  been  only  partially  explored,  we 
will  not  pause  to  describe  them. 

Ohio  and  Isle  Royale  Company. — The  operations  of  the  company  are 
at  present  confined  to  testing  a  vein  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  .section 
34,  township  60,  range  34,  about  two  miles  south  of  Rock  Harbor,  'jy  the 
lake  shore.  Its  course  is  northeast;  its  inclination,  OS*^  to  the  northwest. 
Thus,  although  its  course  is  conformable  to  the  axis  of  elevation,  its  incli- 
nation cuts  across  the  beds  of  rock.  The  vein  is  thirteen  inches  in  width, 
composed  of  calc  spar,  quartz,  and  epidote,  with  native  copp<:r  in  thin 
sheets  adhering  to  the  hanging-wall,  and  disseminated  through  the 
gangue.  An  adit  has  been  started  n-ar  the  water-level  to  intersect  a 
shaft  25  feet  deep,  a  short  distance  from  the  shore.  The  rock  in  which 
it  is  excavated  is  a  dark-gray,  granular  trap.  The  walls  are  well  defined, 
and  the  character  of  the  rock  is  favorable.  This  belt,  it  was  feared,  would 
not  prove  sufficiently  thick  to  afford  ample  room  for  working  the  vein. 
The  veinstone  contains  from  8  to  12  per  cent,  of  copper,  which  is  .■^ufli- 
ciently  rich  to  pay  for  mining. 


144 


Doc.  No.  69. 


tai 


A  small  foeder  comes  into  the  vein  on  the  loft,  about  15  feet  (mm  the 
entrance  to  the  adit,  at  which  point  it  presents  tlio  following  section: 
Pig.  20.  1.  Jiaiimonte,  I  inch. 

2.  Kpidotc  and  quartz,  wiih  br«cciated  wall-rock  con- 
ning copper  in  bunches  and  disseminated,  13  inches. 

3.  Fragments  of  wallrock,  with  strings  of  copper  in  the 
fissures,  associated  with  the  laumonite  and  epidote,  4 
feet  3  indies. 

A  few  rods  to  the  south  is  seen  another  Vt?in  about 
eight  inches  in  width.  The  matrix  consists  of  datholite, 
heavily  charged  with  native  copper.  It  is  in  a  rock  simi- 
lar in  character,  to  that  above  described,  resting  on  which  is  a  hard,  crys- 
talline greenstone.  The  vein,  in  its  upward  course,  becomes  contracted 
to  a  mere  fissure,  containing  little  cop[>er,  where  it  enters  the  incumbent 
greenstone. 

The  following  shafts  have  been  sunk  by  this  company,  under  the  di- 
rection of  Mr.  Douglass: 

One  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  22,  township  66,  range  34.  At 
the  depth  of  20  feet,  they  intersected  the  columnar  trap,  a  contmuation  of 
the  belt  described  as  occurring  at  the  Siskawit  niine.  The  vein  in  the 
Upper  belt  was  three  feet  wide,  but  after  entering  the  columnar  trap  it 
rapidly  contracted,  and  at  the  depth  of  35  feet  exhibited  a  m^re  seam  a 
few  lines  in  width. 

On  section  2,  township  65,  range  34,  a  shaft  was  sunk  40  feet ;  at  the 
depth  of  10  feet  a  belt  of  sandstone  was  struck,  which  continued  as  far  as 
the  shaft  was  prosecuted,  fortiflng  the  foot* wall  of  the  vein. 

On  section  36,  in  the  same  township  and  range,  a  shaft  was  sunk  to  the 
depth  of  90  feet.  The  formation  dips  to  the  southeast,  while  the  vein  in- 
clines to  the  northwest. 

On  section  10,  township  65,  range  34,  a  shaft  was  sunk  to  the  depth 
of  4(3  feet  on  a  vein  of  epidote  and  datholite  two  feet  in  width.         '  i 

These  shafts,  at  the  time  of  our  vi-iii,  were  filled  with  water,  and  we 
were  unable  to  gather  exact  information  as  to  the  character  and  produc- 
tiveness of  the  several  veins. 


)  1 


■^!^^   • 


■I     Ar.    : 


.  J! 


'Ak    '* 


•  i  I 


I    ,' (. ,  /  •, 


■I/'-   •  .  .1  ) 

••  '■■  :    •■'  ■■( 


Mi)  .oK  .'X*U 


DM 


tion : 


t,    ••«.»«"«  '^^A  "^  •  ^^v■<w  v^vAi.  •5^'.  »A''V 


>ck  con- 
[  inches, 
er  in  the 
pidote,  4 

in  about 
datholite, 
•ock  simi- 
ard,  crys- 
contracted 
ncumbetu 


er 


the  di- 


ige34.  At 
inuation  of 
ein  in  the 
inav  trap  it 
j^re  soam  a 

feet ;  at  the 
led  as  far  as 

sunk  to  the 
the  vein  in- 
to the  depth 

Iter,  and  we 
ind  produc- 


i    -^! 


\-: . 


J  •  •',•    ,      !    '  V 


•j..  I'-.:   /. 


M.  .;■'"        !    .■•11"  ■  ' 
I 


'-:..••,( /.r,*!   ■"■•'!    '.i^ifi,". 


I  .■..,.',      M'  I  !(  I    i-tV  -'"i         1'   :     '  M     ■     JV.-'i.        I  I 


r    •'■ 


TABULAR  STATEMENT 


, ,   ..,/-.  ii-lOi-J 


THE  Mk\ES  IN  THE  LAKE  SUPERIOR  LAND  DISTRICT^ 


I  ^. 


M 


■\      1  '-I      (' 


I         I 


,   >h   V,  ' 


THE  STATE  OF  MICHrQAS 


■■:■  W 


■'i... ii    • 


■  r 


10 


'  .:-■  i!;'  V  ■■!• 


'■  ■.1     ■ 


vi     .•   ,     •      i 


.  ,.  )    I     ! 


Jc;;.V. 


146 


Doc.  No.  69. 


Tabular  statement  of  the  mines  in 


Name  of  mine. 


Cliff  mine,  (Pitts- 
burg  and  Boa- 
ton  Company.) 


Town'p  58  north, 
range  32  W., 
sect.  36,  south- 
weflt  quarter. 


North  American. 


il 


Town'p  57,  range 
32,  section  2, 
nortlieast  quar- 
ter. 


lUinnesota . 


Northwest 


Situation. 


« 

> 


Town'p  50,  range 
39,  section  15, 
northwest  quar- 
ter. 


Tow  n'p  58,  range 
30,  section  15. 


Feet. 
393 


415 


637 


Nature  of  the  rock. 


A  belt  of  amygda- 
loidal  trap,  cap[}ed 
with  hard  crystalline 
greenstone,  the  vein 
traversing  both  di- 
agonally. It  ex- 
pands, and  becomes 
nighly  njetalliferous 
in  the  amygdaloid, 
but  barren  &  pinch- 
ed in  the  greenstone. 


Geological  position 
similar  to  the  Cliff, 
both  being  in  the. 
Sams  luuysdaloidal 
belt,  but  the  veins 
are  distinct. 


NearOatonagon  river. 
Gray  amygdaloidal 
trap,  consisting  of 
hornblende,  feldsp'r, 
and  chlorite.  Rock 
rather  firm  and  com- 
pact, the  vein  run- 
ning with  the  forma- 
tion. 


This  mine  is  situated 
on  the  aouth'm  slope 
of  the  axis  of  Ke- 
weenaw point.  The 
top  of  the  ridge  is 
greenstone,  resting 
on  a  belt  of  conglom- 
erate 12  feet  thick, 
succeeded  by  amyg- 
daloid and  compact 
trap,  which  contain 
the  veins. 


Phenomena  of  the  lode. 


The  lode  is  about  15  inches 
wide  on  the  average,  bear- 
ing north  27°  west,  with  an 
underlie  of  10°  to  the  east. 
Veinstone  drusy  quartz, 
calc-apar,  laumonite,  preh- 
nite,  and  chlorite,  with  na- 
tive copper  disseminated  in 
spangles,  bolts,  and  sheets. 
Surfaces  often  incrusted 
with  green  carbonate  and 
red  oxide  copper.  Sheet 
cupper  often  fills  the  entire 
vem;  one  of  which  weighed 
50  tons.  Silver  associated ; 
moat  abundant  near  the 
junction  of  the  tsvo  belts. 

Tne  lode  in  the  widest  past 
is  7  foet ;  the  avorage  width 

.  2|  feet.  Tjie  course  is 
north  58°  -west ;  underlie 
10°  to  the  east.  The  vein- 
stone consists  of  calc-spar, 
laumonite,  prehnite,  chlo- 
rite, apophyllite,  and  drusy 
quartz,  with  copper  (na- 
tive) similar  to  the  Cliff, 
with  the  exception  that  the 
masses  are  less  abundant. 

The  lode  is  from  8  inches  to 
8  feet  wide;  average  3j  feet 
between  the  walls.  Course 
north  50°  east;  underlie 
38°  to  the  north.  Native 
xi^opper  in  large  masses  end 
in  spangles  and  bolts  in  a 
veinstone  of  calc-spar, 
chlorite,  Uid  epidote.  Sil- 
ver not  rare.  Fragments 
of  the  wall-rock  aru  oflen 
found  included. 

There  are  three  veins  within 
300  yards.  East  vein,  north 
163°  east;  average  wiilth 
14  inches.  Middle  vein, 
north  19°  west;  average 
width  18  inches.  West 
vein,  north  17°  west ;  aver- 
age width  12  inches.  Un- 
derlie of  cast  vein,  8°  east; 
middle  vein,  8°  west ;  west 
vein,  12°  west.  Veinstone 
quartijCalc-sper,  ch  iorite,  & 
laumonite,  investing  native 
copper  in  masses,  spangles, 
and  specks.  Native  silver 
in  small  quantities.  | 


I. 

II. 

III. 


M'o  .0/  oo^r 

Doc.  No.  69. 


M7 


4he  Lake  Superior  land  district. 


tins  within ! 
Ivein,  north 
lage  wiilth 
Idale  vein,  I 
average 
ts.     West 
vest;  aver- 1 
bhes.    Un- 
In,  8°east; 
Twest ;  west 
1  Veinstone 
I  chlorite,  & 
Iting  native 
]),  spangles, 
Bitive  silver 
es. 


e 
x: 


.   I.  260  feet 

II.  240  feet 

III.  200  feet 


■.J  ,1 


I.  215  feet 
II.  230  feet 


I.    57  feet 

II.    57  feet 

III.    27  feet 


East  vein — 

I.    90  feet 

IF.    60  feet 

in.    73  feet 

Middle  vein — 

I.    50  feet 

II.    42  feet 

West  vein — 

I.    50  feet 

II.    25f«et 

III.    43  feet 


S 


-3 

s 


I. 

II. 
III. 
IV. 

V. 


275  feet 
361  feet 
465  feet 
560  feet 
578  feet 


I.  2i20feet 

II.  225  feet 

III.  235  feet 


1.  150  feet 
11.  180  feet 


s 
S 


Effected  bv 
pumps,  witli 
horse-power, 
working  six 
hours  per 
day. 


East  vein — 
I.  480  feet 
II.  190  feet 

Middle  vein — 
I.  100  feet 

West  vein — 
I.  340  feet 


Whim,  by 
horse-power, 
working  four 
hours  per 
day. 


Windlass;  ad  tt 
intersects  the 
vein  77  feet 
below  sur- 
face. 


Whim,  work- 
ed by  horse- 
power 6  hrs. 
per  day. 


2,528  tons,  at 
60  p.  c.  Con- 
tents of  vein- 
stone 100,000 
toss =14^  p. 
cent. 


s 


14i 


1,700  tons. 


57  t.  in  masses 
=:60  p.  cent., 
&  700  stamp- 
work  =lli. 


50  tons  masses 
=50  p.  cent; 
500  t.  stamp- 
work  =8  per 
cent. 


n 


No.  of  men. 


I 
09 


58 


61 


12 


12 


i' 
•S 


o 


101 


6,000 


24 


6,000 


48 


42 


36 


3,00 


53 


10,000 


148 


Doc.  No.  69. 


STATEjVIENT-. 


name  or  mine. 


Copper  Falls. 


Town'p  58,  range 
31,  section  11, 
southeast  quar- 
Ur. 


Northwestern.... 


Phoenix,  (former- 
ly Li^e  Supe- 
nor.) 


Situation. 


«  . 

as 

I 


Town'p  58,  range 
31,  section  24. 


Nature  of  the  rock. 


Pett.\ 

a03 1  A  belt  of  amygdaloid 

I  150  feet  thick,  in- 
cluded   between    a 

I  band  of  sandstone 
below  and  conglom- 
erate above.  The 
vein  cuts  these  bands 
diagonally.  The 
productive  portion 
la  limited  to  the 
amygdaloid. 


593 


Town'p  58,  range 
31,  sections  19 
and  aO. 


Lftc  la  Belle . . . . . 


Town'p  58,  range 
S9,  section  33, 
northeast  quar- 
ter. 


Geological  position 
similar  to  the  North- 
west. 


.1"  '/i 


337  Comp.  trap  and  amyg- 
ualoid,  surmounted 
by  a  thin  belt  of 
conglomerate,  with 
a  hard  greenstone 
porphyry  below. 
The  amygdaloid 
traversed  oy  nu- 
merous strings  of 
prehnite,  quartz  and 
laumonite,  contain- 
ing native  copper 
and  native  silver. 


309 


Boheoiian. 


Town'p  58,  mnge 

no      oa<.»inn    QQ 

southeast  quar- 
ter. 


A  hard  crystalline 
rock,  composed  of 
feldspar  &  chlorite, 
with  an  imperfect 
chlorite  slate  at  the 
base,  resembling  a 
volcanic  ash. 


623  This  mine  is  in  the 

finmp    niountciln  e? 

Lac  la  Belle  mine. 

i    The  rock  is  similar. 


Phenomena  of  the  lode. 


Lode  variable  in  width,  but  its 
average  may  be  assumed  at 
8  inches.  Course  north  3S° 
west ;  underlie  13°  west. 
Native  copper,  with  con- 
siderable silver,  near  the 
junction  of  trap  and  con- 
glomerate. One  mass  of 
copper  from  this  vein 
weighed.  13  tons.  Vein- 
stone similar  to  those  be- 
fore described,  with  the 
addition  of  analcime  and 
mesotype. 

Average  width  of  the  lode  1 
inches;  expands  in  places 
to  4  feet.  Course  north  33^ 
west;  underlie  slightly  to 
the  west.  Native  copper 
in  sheets,  bunches,  andfaia- 
seminated  through  vein- 
stone of  calc-spar,  chlo- 
rite, Ac. 

Most  of  the  workings  here 
have  been  prosecuted  off 
from  the  vein,  and  the  bulk 
of  the  mass  raised  was  from 
the  west  wall-rock.  It  con- 
sisted of  amygdalohlal  trap, 
the  amygdules  being  filled 
with  native  copper.  There 
are  indications  of  a  good 
vein  here,  bearing,  prob- 
ably, north  17°  west;  but 
the  workings  did  not  de- 
velope  it. 

Two  sets  of  veins.  One  bear- 
ing north  SCi°  west,  with 
an  underlie  to  the  east  of 
12P ;  variable  in  width ;  av- 
erage 18  inches ;  not  been 
sufficiently  explored  to  de- 
termine its  value.  Vein- 
stone calc-spar,  with  chlo- 
rite aud  quartz,  including 
gray  and  yellow  sulphuret 
of  copper,  with  a  trace  of 
silver.  E.  and  Yf,  vein  (> 
inches  wide.  Course  north 
80°  east,  with  an  underlie 
of  35°  to  the  north.  Not 
continuous. 

Veins  a  continualiou  of  those 

Ugt  (lr^c>°>b(5<l- 


I. 

IL 
III. 
IV. 


Continued. 


;.-V 


Doc.  No.  69. 


00 1 
149 


\  of  those 


n 
% 


-a 


"3 


i.  130  feet    I  I.  436  feet 

II.    42  feet    |  II.  190  feet 

111.  145  feet    ,  III.  100  feet 

I  IV.  128  feet 

I                      j  Ad.  S75  feet 


■':        !- 


,;r!r,.  I,'.  •   ; 


I.    24  feet      Adit  362  feet ; 
\\.    38  feet    i    if  driven  950, 
will  intersect 


(.  ..  feet 

II.  QUfeet 

HI.  . .  feet 

IV.  'S  fjet 


vein. 


I.    31  feet 

I(.    4Hfoet 

HI.    36  feet 


I.  196  feet 
11.    75  feet 


I.  396  feet 
II.  900  feet 


I.  120  feet 
11.    20  feet 


Whim,  work*  I 
eU  by  horse-  ] 
power  I  hrs 
per  day.  ♦ 


At  a  depth  of 
140  feet. 


Whim,  work- 
ed by  horse- 
power 6  hrs. 
in  24. 


a 

8 

b 
V 

Oh 


Bv  adits.  No. 
H,  27  feet 
above  Lake 
Superior;  I, 
309  ft.  above. 


Whim,  work- 
ed by  horse- 
power. 


100  tons. 


100  tons 


20 


No.  of  men. 


I 


Temp 
suspe 


orarily 
nded. 


.do. 


.do. 


Temp 
BQspe 


B 

V 


o 
S5 


3,000 


.do. 


.do. 


orarily 
nded. 


3,000 


1,808 


10,000 


i,5M 


150 


Doc.  No.  69, 


s?» 


'    «   ! 


.t;'.? 


f. 


STATEMENT— 


Naine  of  nine. 


Sitnatio 


duincy . 


Forsyth. 


Albion . 


Forest. 


Ohio  Trap  Rock 


.1^  venture. 


i>«*aglas8  Hough- 
ion. 


Pittsburg  and  Isle 
Royale. 


Siakewit , 


Ohio     and     Isle 
Boyale. 


Town'p  55,  range 
34,  section  26. 


Town'p  57,  range 
33,  section  33, 
southeast  quar- 
ter. 


Town'p  57,  range 
32,  section  11. 


Town'p  50,  ranp;e 

39,  section  30, 
southwest  quar- 
ter. 

Town'p  49,  range 

40,  section  5, 
southwest  quar- 
ter. 

Town'p  58,  range 
38,  section  35, 
southwestquar- 
ter. 

Town'p  51,  range 
37,  section  15, 
northwest  quar- 
ter. 


Town'p  65,  range 
36,  section  12, 
northwest  quar- 


Town'p  66,  range 
34,  section  13, 
southwestquar- 
ter. 

Town'p  66,  range 
34,  section  34, 
southeast  quar- 
ter. 


I. 


Feet. 

400 


554 


672 


650 


672 


478 


SO 


60? 


25 


Nature  of  the  rock. 


The  vein  ranges  with 
the  formation,  being 
betvreen  two  belts 
of  trap.  The  upper 
wall  brojvn  com- 
pact trii}>;  the  lower 
amygdaloidal. 

The  cap  of  hill  is 
greenstone,  with 
nnygdaloidal  tran 
at  the  base. 


Geological  pusition 
similar  to  that  of 
the  Cliff  and  North 
American. 

Amygdaloidal  &gray 
trap,  vein  running 
with  the  formation. 


GreeiiStone  trap,  the 
vein  ranging  and 
dipping  witn  the 
formadon. 

Hard  close-grained 
trap — an  unkind 
rock 


Compact  chlorite  trap, 
the  vein  conforming 
to  the  general  direc- 
tion of  the  ra'.j,^  in 
bearing  and  inclina- 
tion. 

Hard  greenstone,  with 
conchoidal  fracture. 


rhenomena  of  the  lode. 


Dark  compact  trap, 
with  columnar  trap 
40  feet  below  sur- 
face. 

Dark-gray,  granular 
trap,  capped  with 
greenstone. 


The  lode  bears  north  43° 
east,  and  dips  58°  to  north- 
west ;  average  width  8  in. 
Veinstone  calc-spar,  chlo- 
rite, and  quartz  Native  cop- 
per in  sheets  and  diffused 
through  the  veinstone. 

Lode  well  defined  on  surface. 
Course  north  9i°  west.  Un- 
derlie 9°  to  east.  Native 
copper  in  sheets  and  dif- 
fused, with  abundant  traces 
of  silver.  Veinstone  calc- 
spar,  chlorite,  and  enidote. 

Lode  coriposed  of  cnlorite, 
calc-spar,  &c  ,  with  thin 
scales  of  native  copper ;  18 
in.  wide.  Course  ^ .  46°  W. 
Underlie  8°  to  the  east. 

Lode  quKrtz,  chlorite,  calc- 
spar,  and  epidotc,  with  na- 
tive copper  in  bunches  and 
disseminated.  Coursenorth 
70°  east.  Dip  70°  north. 

Veinstone  epidote,  chlorite, 
quartsi,  and  calc-spar,  with 
native  copper  disseminated. 
Course  north  52°  east.  Dip 
39°  north. 

Vein  pinched  and  ill-defined, 
bearing  southwest,  and  dips 
north.  Native  copper  in 
bunches  in  chlorite,  epi- 
dote, and  quartz. 

The  lode  beai-s  north  and 
south,  with  an  inclination 
of  60°  to  the  west.  Vein- 
stone quartz  and  chlorite, 
with  cjpper  disseminated 
and  in  bunches. 

Vein  pinched,  expanding 
downwards;  18  inches  in 
width  in  places.  Course 
north  20°  east.  Dip  78° 
west.  Native  copper  in 
sheets  and  grains,  with  calc- 
spar,  prehnite,  &c. 

Vein  bears  e&jt  and  west. 
Underlie  15°  to  the  north. 
Veinstone  epidote,  chlorite, 
calc-spar.  Native  copper  in 
sheets  and  disseminated. 

Vein  composed  of  epidote, 
calc-3par,  with  native  co{> 
per,  bearing  northeast.  Dip 
68°  to  northwest. 


Doc.  Nor.  69. 


f  f 


Continued.,  ,;  , 


j:  V'ft:'.'.-       •> 


•'   (•■,'|:'l:i'.;;,i 


I,    67  feet 

*  « 

.1.      iU    ;      -    ';■ 

1    I'C      •;    .'   11'. 


I.    70  r«ec 

II.    36  feet 

III.    10  feet 


I.  100  feet 

U.    40  feet 

III.    38  feet 


1.    Stfeel 
II.    13  feet 


I.  108  feet 
II.    40  feet 


I.    34  feet 
II.    13  feet 


1.    63  feet 
II.    67  feet 


I.    40  feet 
II.    35  feet 


Sofeet 


3 
o 


I.    70  feet 
II.    GU  feet 


I   2J0feet 


i!:,,;!, 


I.    30  feet 


55  feet 


I.     42  feet 

II.  113  feet 

III.    18  feet 

".tV."'    .. 
115  feet 


I.    46  feet 


« 


Windlass . 


,  ;i 


Windlass , 


Windlass  and 
adit. 


Whim. 


Adit  and  wind* 
laes. 


A'lit. 


\yindl9Ra.,. 


Whim. 


Windlass . 


e 

e 

o 

8 
<S 


6  Ions . 


20  tons. 


6  tons , 


NotfuUy  tested 


75  tons. 


7  tons . 


10  tons . 


50  tons  .••••ft 


J .  1 '  ■  - 1 


10  tons . 


£ 


•I'.i!: 


*Q 


J  ■!■ 


No.  of  man 


I 


Temp 

8UBp« 


.do.. 


.do. 


Temp 
suspe 


e 

e 

a 


ororily 
nded. 


.  .do. 


.do. 


10 


orarily 
pded 


I 


.  * 


SO 


3,000..' 

..  .!.•'!  i 

Ii'-i  / 
'.\\\ 

40,000 
6,0(»:*' 


10,00(ht 


10,06a'"' 


6,0^." 

i  'i. 


f  I'. 


-}'; 


J! 


U2 


Doc.  Nd.  69. 


(f 


f  '  ' 

1 

1 


We  have  thus  attempted  to  give,  somewhat  in  detail,  a  descriplftm  of 
the  several  mines  now  wrought  in  the  Lake  Superior  land  district.  SVe 
have  endeavored  to  exhibit  the  pr:  ipal  phenomena  of  the  vei;?s,  their 
range,  ex  tent,  and  metallic  contents. 

When  it  is  considered  that  nearly  the  entire  copper  region  is  an  unre- 
claimed wilderness^  the  miners'  .settlements  appearing  like  mere  dots  on, 
its  surfiice,  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  trees,  through  which  the  ex- 

Elorer  with  difficulty  forces  a  path;  and  that,  except  where  the  streams 
ave  worn  their  beds  in  the  rock,  or  the  hills  terminate  in  bold  and  crag- 
gy ledges,  the  ground  is  covered  with  a  thick  carpet  of  mosses  and 
liche  »s,  effectually  concealing  every  trace  of  veins, — it  is  surprising  that 
such  an  amount  of  mineral  wealth  has  been  revealed  within  so  short  a 
period.  This  region  had  occasionally  been  traversed  by  the  trapper,  and 
the  white  man  had  coasted  along  its  rock-bound  shores,  at  intervals,  for 
nearly  two  hundred  years;  but  up  to  the  year  1841,  when  Houghton 
made  his  reconnaissance,  we  have  no  evidence  that  a  really  productive 
vein  had  been  observed.  To  him  is  to  be  ascribed  the  credit  of  having 
first  pronounced  on  the  value  of  this  region  for  mining  purposes,  and  de- 
lineated, with  a  graphic  pen,  its  geological  outlines. 

It  is  only  about  a  year  since  the  Minnesota  mine,  which  is  surpassed  by 
none  in  the  region  either  in  extent  or  productiveness,  was  developed. 
The  same  is  true,  to  a  great  extent,  of  the  North  American. 

As  th'  country  becomes  opened,  and  the  means  for  exploration  become 
increased,  new  sources  of  m.ineral  wealth  will  undoubtedly  be  revealed. 
There  will  be  an  increase  in  the  products  of  these  mines  from  year  to- 
ytfar,  until  the  national  supply  will  exceed  the  national  consumption. 

For  certain  purposes  in  the  arts  this  copper  stands  unrivalled;  in 
deusity  and  tenacity  it  surpasses  all  the  ores  of  copper.  Hence,  in  the 
manufacture  of  wire,  where  extreme  ductility  is  required — in  the  manu- 
factAire  of  ordnance,  where  tenacity  is  the  chief  requisite — this  copper 
should  be  employed.  It  would  be  proper  for  the  government,  in  con- 
tra£ttng  for  ordnance,  with  the  double  view  of  encouraging  this  branch 
of  industry  and  securing  an  aiticle  made  of  the  best  material,  to  insert  a 
stipulation  that  they  be  ca^  from  this  copper.  .The  same  encouragement 
might  be  given  in  sheathing  the  national  ships. 

This  copper  contains  a  small  per  centage  of  silver— too  inconsiderable 
in  most  cases  to  justify  separation,  but  the  presence  of  which  enhances 
the  value  of  the  copper,  protecting  it,  in  a  considerable  degree-  from  the 
ONTOsive  action  of  salt  water.  These  qualities,  when  known,  will  give 
it  «wreference  in  marlwt  over  copper  reduced  from  the  ores. 

We  have  estimated  the  product  of  the  copper  mines  for  the  year  1849 
at  1,200  tons.  For  the  ensuing  year  it  may  be  safely  rated  at  2,000 
loos;  and  a  proportionate  increase  may  be  anticipated  for  several  years  to 
•come. 

How  far  the  product  of  these  mines  will  go  towards  supplying  the 
home  demand  ^lay  be  inferred  from  the  following  table,  whicA  exhibits 
:pcetty  accurately  (at  least  as  much  so  as  any  statistics  which  are  availa- 
'Ue)  the  extent  of  that  demand : 


'Statcm 
of  c 
endh 


Y« 


1840... 
1841... 
1842... 
1843... 
1844.... 
1845..., 
1846..., 
1847..,. 
1848. . . . 
1849.... 


By  thi 
nually  ir 
suming  t 
be  22  cej 
product  c 
one- half 
tiveness  ( 
comes  m( 
been  attai 

Weha^ 
together  s 
mines  in 
engaged  i 


Doc.  No.  is*^!: 


153 


Statement,  furnished  by  the  Register  of  the  Treasury,  exhibiting  the  value 
of  copper  unmanufactured  annuatty  imported  dur'ng  (he  ten  years 
ending  June  30,  1 849. 


a 

lent 


By  this  statement  it  will  be  seen  that  the  average  value  of  copper  an- 
nually imported  into  the  United  States  slightly  exceeds  $1,708,000,  As- 
suming the  price  of  pig  copper  to  be  18  cents  per  pound,  and  sheathings  to 
be  22  cents,  the  annuial  consumption  would  be  less  than  6,000  tons.  The 
product  of  the  Lake  Superior  mines  for  the  year  1851  will  probably  reach 
one-half  of  this  amount,  or  2,500  tons.  There  is  a  limit  to  the  produc- 
tiveness of  all  mines;  for,  when  once  fairly  opened,  their  exploitation  be- 
comes more  expensive  the  farther  it  is  prosecuted.  That  limit  has  not 
been  attained  by  any  of  the  mines  of  Lake  Superior. 

We  have  endeavored  in  the  subsequent  pages  of  this  chapter  to  bring 
together  a  mass  of  statistical  information  with  regard  to  the  products  of 
mines  in  different  countries,  which  Iiiay  be  useful  for  reference  to  those 
engaged  in  public  pursuits,  as  well  as  the  general  reader. 

— ' ■"   -■  ■   -  ■   —  —  ■       ■ -■— ■        — -.       ■      ...  .....     .      ^ —  ■■     '- 

•  Old  copper  included  with  copper  in  piga. 


ible 

ices 

the 

jive 

[849 

Looo 

rs  to 

the 

Ibits 

ila- 


•o'- 


I" 


154 


Be;.  No.  69f r 


ifi;.  jl' 


-^\m. 


^•.^ 


u.^^^■v 


The  following  table  of  the  metals  annually  raised  in  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  is  taken  from  De  la  Beche's  Survey  of  Corn w^Uj  (1836,)  but  is 
probably  too  low  for  the  present  time: 

Iron 

Copper  - 

I<ead 

Tin 

Manganese 

Silver    - 

Zinc 


^■8,000,000 

1,200,000 

920, 000 

390,000 

60,000 

30,000 

7,000 

^10,597,000 


. '/  i  r  ' 

.rt.-l 


•  •J 


M.  Verlet  (Gen.  and  Stat.  Rev.,  1837)  furnishes  the  following  compara- 
tive statement  of  the  yield  of  the  different  mines  of  Europe,  taking  Great 
Britain  for  a  unity: 

Great  Britain       .....        1 
Russia  and  Poland  -  .  .  .        | 

France     .  .  .  .  .  ~        \ 

-'        Austria    . 
Spain 
Prussia    - 
Sweden   - 
Harz 

Tuscany  - 
Bavaria  - 
Saxony    - 

Piedmont  and  Savoy 
Denmark - 
'      Norway   - 

It  will  thus  be  seen  how  largely  the  mining  interest  of  Great  Britain 
preponderates  over  that  of  any  other  nation  of  Europe.*  Russia^  the 
principal  seat  of  whose  mining  operations  is  in  the  Ural  mountains,  ranks 
next  in  the  scale.  The  productiveness  of  these  mines  is  yearly  increas- 
ing, and  the  relative  preponderance  of  Great  Britain  is  yearly  diminishing. 
France,  whose  mines  are  conducted  with  the  most  consummate  skill, 
,  occupies  the  next  place  on  the  list. 

Our  own  country  abounds  in  mineral  wealth.  Our  coal-fields,  occupy- 
ing portions  of  fourteen  States,  comprehend  an  area  of  130,000  square 
miles.  Associated  with  them  are  extensive  beds  of  iron,  rivalling  in 
richness  those  of  Shropshire  and  Wales.  Numerous  furnaces  and  foundries 
have  already  sprung  up  along  the  lines  of  their  out-crop,  giving  employ- 
ment to  a  large  number  of  operatives.  The  high  price  of  labor  and  the 
remoteness  of  tne  beds  from  the  seaboard  have  operated  to  depress  this 
branch  of  business,  which  employs  a  capital  of  more  than  $20,000,000. 

The  Silurian  limestones  of  the  West,  while  they  support  a  soil  of  great 
fertility,  yield  an  amount  of  lead  beyond  the  national  consumption. 


1 
I 

TT 

I 

Si 
1 


*The  number  of  persons  directly  dependent  on  mining  apftrations  in  Great  Britain  is  eatimated 
at  1,000,(100 :  193,000  are  actually  employed  in  the  minis.' 


The 

we  h 

T[ 

ofou 

rathe 

for  a 

Th 

It  is  ( 

est  of 

intere 

censu 

ca»b< 

raised 


The 
of  the 
who  ha 
Stafes  a 
the  natii 
the  nort 
South  A 
may  the 
products 
its  mine 
To  si 
prepared 
reach, 
deficient 
of  the  cii 
sinugglec 
fhan  estii 
it  is  all  c 
upon  th? 
tries. 

*lt  is  said 
'ut  we  appr< 


i'fj  L 


I  i 


ain  {^d 

,)  but  is 


LUf 


•.mV 


Bop.  No.  69« 


1^ 


f.i 


compara- 
ing  Great 


■\"- 


;at  Britain 
lussia^  the 
lins,  ranks 
[ly  increas- 

linishing. 

late  skill, 

[s,  occupy- 
pOO  square 
[vailing  in 
foundries 
[g  employ- 
|or  and  the 
lepress  this 

|o,ooo,ooo. 

oil  of  great 
isumption. 


The  value  of  the  copper  mines  and  their  influence  on  the  national  wealth, 
we  have  attempted  to  set  forth. 

The  richness  and  extent  of  the  gold  tracts  of  Cahfomia  surpass  all 
of  our  previous  knowledge  of  this  class  of  deposites,  and  seem  fabulous 
rather  than  real.  It  is  to  this  region,  also,  that  we  can  confidently  look 
for  a  supply  of  quicksilver. 

The  zinc  ores  of  New  Jersey  are  beginning  to  be  advantageously  wrought 
It  is  extremely  difficult  to  obtain  a  correct:  statement  of  the  mining  inter- 
est of  the  United  States,  as  there  is  no  statistical  bureau  to  which  those 
interested  in  this  branch  of  industry  are  required  to  make  returns.  The 
census  returns  hitherto  have  been  very  imperfect.  The  following  tablo 
caif  be  regarded  only  ar  an  approximation  to  the  value  of  metals  annually 
raised  in  the  United  States: 


Gold      - 
Iron 
Lead 
Copper  - 
Mercury* 


$40,000,000 

16, 500, 000 

•  2,400,000 

750,000 

600,000? 

I  *-    - 

$60,150,000 


The  mining  interest  of  this  country  is  in  its  infancy.  If  the  products 
of  the  California  mines  are  as  great  as  has  been  represented  by  those 
who  have  had  the  best  opportunities  for  acquiring  information,  the  United 
States  at  the  present  time  is  the  most  prolific  in  metallic  wealth  of  any  of 
the  nations  of  the  earth.  The  great  chain  of  the  Andes  is  protracted  beyond 
the  northern  limits  of  Oregon,  though  on  a  scale  less  magnificent  than  in 
South  America.  It  is  composed  essentially  of  the  same  rocks;  and  we 
may  therefore  confidently  expect  to  find  a  recurrence  of  the  same  mineral 
products  which  characterize  it  in  Peru  and  Chili.  Thus  far,  in  regard  to 
its  mineral  wealth,  it  may  be  regarded  as  comparatively  upexplored. 

To  show  the  products  of  the  mines  in  different  countries,  we  have 

prepared  the  annexed  table,  from  the  most  authentic  sources  within  our 

reach.    With  regard  to  the  South  American  mines,  our  materials  art  very 

deficient.     The  unstable  character  of  the  governments,  the  iniperfecdon 

of  the  custom-house  returns,  and  the  amount  of  precious  metals  annually 

[Smuggled  out  of  those  countries,  all  render  these  statistics  little  better 

than  estimates.  The  mineral  produce  of  China  is  undoubtedly  great;  but 

lit  is  all  consumed  within  her  own  borders,  and  has,  therefore,  no  effect 

upon  tiis  market.     The  same  remark  is  applicable  to  other  Asiatic  coun- 

I  tries. 

*It  is  said  that  the  quicksilver  mines  of  CalifortiiH  are  now  yielding  a  profit  of  t3,(J00  daily; 
I  )ui  we  apprehend  that  tliis  statement  must  be  received  with  many^rains  of  allowance. 


in  is  eaiiraated 


1^0 


Doc.  No.  6d. 


^ 


«0 


I 


ko 


& 


1 


N 


O 


O 


09 


S22   ■   5    SB 


!^^ 


ISSS^ 


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00 

■'■•li! 


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COl-H 


s 


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«D  P3  I  J  "S"  >fl 


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■«■§  8-5 •£.2. 


Cx) 


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S.S; 


s 


U) 


fi([f[H8  r.  1'' 

'lis:  tiH'i' 

:;l  i'V/.n  :■[   .  l' 


s 


04 


ssss 

ooooo 

OWiO 


IS; 


om«-.t- 


g 


sS 


2»JiP«  c'3"H 


C30S 


£  pL4  o;  :S  n  Q  OS  cS  S- H  E9  U  S 


t 


:r 


!•^(, 


Doc.  Hfo,  60.  157 

According  to  the  estimates  of  M.  Leplay,  secretary  of  the  Commission 
of  Milling  Statistics  in  France,  the  whole  amount  of  copper  produced  in 
the  world  is  equal  to  52,400  tons.  This,  however,  does  not  include 
portions  of  the  Asiatic  continent — with  regard  to  which  we  have  no  statis- 
tical knowledge,  but  of  which  the  mineral  produce  is  entirely  consumed 
within  its  own  borders.  According  to  the  same  authority,  this  amount 
of  copper  is  consumed  in  the  following  manner: 


.t:\ 
■•■■)><■•'*  ',- 


..'.'.".'..      ■     ."'-..■.. 

.<.?  * 

Torn. 

Great  Britain          -        -  .».>     >•?•  ,  . 

>•  , 

10,600 

France 

9,200 

German  Customs  Union     - 

5,400 

Austrian  Empire     - 

2,000 

Russian  Empire 

2,000 

Sweden  and  Norway 

400 

Othier  States  of  Europe      -            - 

6,600 

America  [United  States  5,000] 

6,100 

Asiatic  coniinent  (India  and  Oceanica) 

8,300 

Japan 

1,200 

,.,     Total  - 

H400 

'  t-:. .-.■'- 


!•(,♦-■ 


."i:i 


to8 


Dec  No.  69. 


,1    •;    :     r' 

t:l  -I    1, 


(!;hapter  v.  ; 

ANCIENT   MINING. 


.1    -    r       1.(1'.    -Jill   'lIA 
'I     I  :(i      I     -l    III  li  '*>■ 

;  ,  :•  I  ,-.  '.  ...       t  n, 
1    .III   I '  (.       '   ,11,  'j' 


Emcfence  of  ancient  mining,  excavations,  implements. — High  antiquity 
to  be  ascribed  to  them. —  Whether  they  can  be  traced  to  the  mound- 
builders.—  Ancient  works  at  the  Mirmesota  mines. —  At  the  Forest 
mine. — Nature  of  the  materials  found  in  the  pits. — Bones. — Emdejices 
of  tumuli. — Extent  of  these  workings  in  the  Ontonagon  region. — On 
Keweenaw  Point. —  On  Isle  Roijale.-May  they  not  be  traced  to  the 
aborigines  9 

That  this  region  was  resorted  to  by  a  brrbaric  race  for  the  purpose  of 
procuring  copper,  long  before  it  became  known  to  the  white  man,  is 
evident  from  numerous  memorials  scattered  throughout  its  entire  extent. 
"Whetiier  these  qjicient  miners  belonged  to  the  race  who  built  the  mounds 
found  so  abundantly  on  the  Upper  Missi  nn  and  its  affluents,  or  were 
the  progenitors  of  the  Indians  now  inhabiim^  the  country,  is  a  matter  of 
conjecture. 

When  all  of  the  facts  shall  have  been  collei'tod,  the  question  may  he 
satisfactorily  determined.  The  evidence  of  the  early  mining  consists  in 
the  existence  of  numerous  excavations  in  the  solid  rock;  of  heaps  of  rubble 
and  earth  along  the  courses  of  th€  veins;  of  the  remains  of  copper  utensils 
fashioned  into  the  form  of  knives  and  chisels;  of  stone  hammers,  some 
of  which  are  of  immense  size  and  weight;  of  wooden  bowls  for  bailing 
water  from  the  mines;  and  numerous  levers  of  wood  used  in  raising  the 
mass  copper  to  the  surface. 

The  high  antiquity  of  this  rude  mining  is  inferred  from  the  fact  that  the 
existing  race  of  Indians  have  no  tradition,  by  what  people  or  at  what 
period  it  was  done.  The  places,  even,  were  unknown  to  the  oldest  ot  the 
band  until  pointed  out  by  the  white  man.  It  is  inferred  from  the  character  of 
the  trees  growing  upon  the  piles  of  rubbish — between  which  and  thoso 
forming  the  surrounding  forest  no  perceptible  difference  can  be  detected— » 
from  the  mouldering  state  of  the  wooden  billets  and  levers,  and  from  the  na- 
ture  of  the  matefials  with  which  these  excavations  are  filled,  consisting  of 
fine  clay,  en  eloping  half-decayed  leaves,  and  the  bones  of  the  bear,  the 
deer,  and  the  caribou.  This  filling  up  resulted,  not  from  the  action  of 
temporary  streamlets,  but  from  the  slow  accumulations  of  years. 

Traces  of  tumuli,  constructed  in  the  form  of  mathematical  figures,  have 
been  observed,  but  not  sufficiently  explored  to  determine  absolutely 
whether  they  be  the  work  of  art,  and,  if  so,  for  what  purposes  they  were 
intended. 

It  is  well  known  that  copper  rings,  designed  for  bracelets,  are  frequently 
met  with  in  the  western  mounds.     We  have  several  of  these  relics  in  our 
possession.     There  is  no  evidence  that  the  race  by  whom  those  structures  , 
were  built  possessed  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  metallurgic  art  to  reduce 
and  purify  the  ores  of  copper.  Admitting  that  they  did,  should  we  not  natu- 

source  from  which  these  materials  were  derived?    Are  not  these  copper 


p  }  "l\ 


antiquity 
;  mound- 
\e  Forest 
Evidences 
Ion. — On 
:«(/  to  the 


Doc.  No.  69. 


159 


jiu'pose  of 
8  man,  is 
re  extent, 
e  mounds 
s,  or  were 
I  matter  of 

^n  may  be 
consists  in 
(S  of  rubble 
er  uten^ils 
ners,  some 
for  bailing 
raising  the 

ict  that  the 
ir  at  what 
(lest  ot  the 
haracterof 
and  thos^ 
[etected — 
im  the  na- 
nsisting  of 
bear,  the 
action  of 


rures 


have 
[absolutely 
(they  were 

[frequently 

llics  in  our 

structures 

to  reduce 

not  natu- 

e,  as  the 

lese  coppei' 


tings  a  strong  link  in  the  chain  of  evidence  to  connect  the  ancient  mining 
of  this  region  with  the  earth-works  of  the  Mississippi  valley? 

We  will  now  proceed  to  the  details  of  the  discoveries  thus  far  made. 
The  most  extended  excavations  are  found  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Ontonagon 
river;  and  to  Mr.  Samuel  O.  Knapp,  the  intelligent  agent  of  the  Minnesota 
Company,  belongs  the  credit  of  having  first  laid  before  the  public  an  ac- 
count of  tjieir  nature  and  extent. 

In  the  winter  of  1847-'48,  while  passing  over  a  portion  of  the  lo- 
cation now  occupied  by  the  Minnesota  Mioinf?  Company,  he  observed  a 
continuous  depression  in  the  soil,  which  he  rig  iitly  conjectured  was  caused 
by  the  disentegration  of  a  vein.  There  was  a  bed  of  snow  on  the  ground 
three  feet  in  depth,  but  it  had  been  so  little  disturbed  by  the  wind  that  it 
conformed  to  the  inequalities  of  the  surface.  Following  up  these  indica- 
tions along  the  southern  escarpment  of  the  hill,  where  the  company's 
works  are  now  erected,  he  came  to  a  longitudinal  cavern,  into  which  he 
crept,  after  having  dispos8es.sed  several  porcupines  which  had  t^elected  it 
as  a  place  of  hybernation.  He  saw  numerous  evidences  to  convince  him 
that  this  was  an  artificial  excavation,  and  at  a  subsequent  day,  wirh  the 
assistance  of  two  or  three  men,  proceeded  to  explore  it._  In  clearing  out 
the  rubbish  they  found  numerous  stone  hammers,  sho"  ng  plair  y  that 
they  were  the  mining  implements  of  a  rude  race.  At  the  bottom  of  ;he  ex- 
cavation they  found  a  vein  with  ragged  projections  ol  copper,  wh"  U  the  an- 
cient miners  had  not  detached.    This  point  is  east  of  the  present  works. 

The  following  spring  he  explored  som  of  the  excavr  ^i'  s  to  the  west, 
where  one  of  the  shafts  of  the  mine  is  now  sunk.  Ti  e  d'  pression  was 
twenty-six  feet  deep,  filled  with  clay  and  a  matted  mass  of  mouldering 
vegetable  matter.  When  he  had  penetrated  to  the  depth  of  eighteen 
feet,  he  came  to  a  mass  of  native  copper  ten  feet  long,  three  feet  wide,  and 
nearly  two  feet  thick,  and  weighing  over  six  tons.  On  digging  around  it 
the  mass  was  found  to  rest  on  billets  of  oak,  supported  by  sleepers  of  the 
same  material.  This  wood,  specimens  of  which  we  have  preserved,  by 
its  long  exposure  to  moisture,  is  dark-colored,  and  has  lost  all  of  its  con- 
sistency. A  knife-blade  may  be  thrust  into  it  as  easily  as  into  a  peat- bog. 
The  earth  was  so  packed  around  the  copper  as  to  give  it  a  firm  support. 
The  ancient  miners  had  evidently  raised  it  about  five  feet  and  then  aban- 
doned the  work  as  too  laborious.  They  had  taken  off  every  projecting 
xiint  which  was  accessible,  so  that  the  expo ':'fl  surface  was  smooth.  Be- 
ow  this  the  vein  was  subsequently  found  fi'on  vith  a  sheet  of  copper  five 
eet  thick,  and  of  an  undetermined  extent  veiticaliy  and  longitudinally. 
The  position  of  the  copper  block,  and  the  extent  of  the  exploitations 
along  a  portion  of  the  lode,  may  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  plan  of  the 
Minnesota  mine,  on  page  133.  The  vem  was  wrought  in  the  form  of  an 
open  trench;  and  where  the  copper  v/as  the  most  abundant,  there  the  ex- 
cavations extended  the  deepest.  The  trench  is  generally  filled  to  within 
a  foot  of  the  surface,  with  the  wash  from  the  surrounding  surface  inter- 
mingled with  leaves  nearly  decayed.  The  rubbish  taken  from  the  mine 
is  piled  up  in  mounds,  which  can  readily  be  distinguished  from  the 
former  contour  of  the  ground.  '        /, 


fWP 


Doc.  No.  69. 


A  few  rods  to  Uie  west  is  another  specimen  of  ancient  mining,  wlier^ 

Fig.  30. 


.  .i .''  ',  «' 


^"•^AyCRrjl 


they  have  left  a  portion  of  the  veinstone  standing,  in  the  iovmof  a  pillar, 
ill  order  to  support  the  hanging  wall.  The  rubbish  in  this  excavation 
has  not  been  cleared  away,  so  that  its  extent  is  unknown. 

These  evidences  are  observed  on  this  location  for  a  distance  of  two  and 
a  half  miles.  Upon  a  mound  of  earth  we  saw  a  pine  stump,  broken  fifteen 
feet  from  the  ground,  ten  feet  in  circumference,  which  must  have  grown, 
flourished,  and  died  since  the  earth  in  which  it  had  taken  root  was 
thrown  out.  Mr.  Knapp  counted  three  hundred  and  ninety-five  annular 
rings  on  a  hemlock,  growing  under  similar  circumstances,  whch  he  felled 
near  one  of  his  shafts.  Thus  it  woulcl  appear  that  these  exploitations 
were  made  before  Columbus  started  on  his  voyage  of  discovery. 

The  amount  of  ancient  hammers  found  in  this  vicinity  exceeded  iew 
cart-loads,  and  Mr.  K.,  with  little  reverence  for  the  past,  employed  a  por- 
tion of  them  in  walling  up  a  spring.  They  are  made  of  greenstone  or 
porphyry  pebbles,  with  a  groove,  single  or  double,  cut  around,  by  which 
a  withe  was  attached.  The  following  is  a  sketch  of  one  of  the  larger 
class,  the  dimensions  of  which  were  12x5^x4  inches, 
and  the  weight  39J  pounds.  The  smaller  class, 
weighing  five  or  six  pounds,  were  probably  wielded  in 
one  hand.  The  annexed  sketch  will  convey  an  idea  of 
their  form. 

In  addition  to  these  relics,  a  copper  gad,  with  the  head 
jiuch  battered,  and  a  copper  chisel,  with  a  socket  for 
the  reception  of  a  handle,  were  brought  to  light.  It 
contained  the  fragment  of  a  wooden  handle,  when  dis- 
covered, which  crumbled  very  soon  after  being  exposed. 
The  timber  in  the  excavation  before  described  showed  the 
marks  of  an  axe,  the  bit  of  which  must*have  been  about 
two  inches  in  width. 

•   Mr.  Wm.  H.  Stevens,  the  agent  of  the  Forest  min«,  , 
has  discovered  other  workings  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  30,  townsliip  50,  range  39,  almost  of  equal 
extent  and  interest.    They  occur  on  the  southern  slop« 


Pig.  31. 


I 


— t^, 


r,  where 

i.  ( .  1  •  .'  I ' 

r, 
',    •.    ,1 

'r  • 
r,  ■     I 


Doc.  No.  69. 


I^l 


jf  a  pillar, 
excavation 

)f  two  and 
ken  fifteen 
ive  grown, 
1  root  was 
ve  annular 
kh  he  felled 
sploitations 

:ceeded  ten 
oyed  a  por- 
enstone  or 
,  by  which 

the  larger 
,;4  inches, 
lUer  class, 
wielded  in 

an  idea  of 

Ih  the  head 
socket  for 
light.  It 
when  dis- 

ig  exposed. 

[showed  the 

Ibeen  about 


jrest  min«, 

kest  quarter 
^/ «i 

Ol    equal 

[thern  slop« 


of  a  hill,  and  consist  of  a  series  of  pits,  some  of  which,  on  being  opened, 
ate  found  to  be  fourteen  feet  deep.  They  are  arranged  in  four  lines,  fol- 
lowing the  courses  of  four  veins  or  feeders. 

In  cleaning  out  one  of  these  pits,  at  the  depth  often  feet  the  workmen 
came  across  a  fragment  of  a  wooden  bowl,  which,  from  the  splintry  pieces 
of  rock  and  gravel  imbedded  in  its  rim,  must  have  been  employed  ia 
bailing  water. 

Remnants  of  charcoal  were  found,  not  only  there,  but  at  numerous 
places,  lying  on  the  surface  of  the  rock.  Some  have  sfupposed  that  fires 
were  kindled  for  th^  purpose  of  melting  the  copper,  but  the  more  reason- 
able supposition  is  that  heat  was  employed  to  destroy  the  cohesiwi.  between 
the  copper  and  the  rock.  Before  the  introduction  of  gunpowder,  fire  was 
the  great  agent  in  excavating  rock;  and  even  now,  in  the  Harz  and  at  Al- 
tenberg,  two  of  the  old  mining  districts  of  Europe,  this  agent  is  employed 
to  break  down  rocks  of  extreme  hardneas.  It  is  quite  as  economical 
where  fuel  abounds  as  gunpowder  in  destroying  silicious  rocks. 

We  can  hardly  conceive  it  possible  for  them  to  have  made  such  extei .  - 
sive  excavations  with  such  implements  simply  as  they  have  left  behiriL ,. 
without  availing  themselves  of  the  aid  of  fire. 

In  one  of  these  pits-— southwest  quarter  of  section  35,  township  51, 
range  38 — were  found  the  bones  of  a  deer,  in  a  pretty  good  state  of  preser- 
vation. Fragments  of  the  cranium,  humerus,  and  of  one  horn  (which, 
to  use  the  language  of  sportsmen,  was  in  the  "velvet"  at  the  time  of  the 
destruction  of  the  animal)  were  taken  out.  The  smaller  bones  had 
mouldered  away.  They  reposed  on  clay,  a  foot  above  tlie  surface  of  the 
pit,  and  were  covered  with  accunmlations  of  clay,  leaves,  gravel,  and 
sand  to  the  depth  of  nineteen  feet.  It  would  appear  that  the  animal 
either  fell  into  the  pit  or  ventured  in  to  procure  water,  and,  unable  to  ex- 
tricate himself,  perished. 

These  pits,  filled  as  they  were  with  water,  would  not  become  the  dens 
of  carniverous  animals,  and  to  no  agency  of  theirs  are  we  to  attribute  the 
position  of  these  bones. 

In  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  16,  township  50,  ronge  39,  near  a 
small  stream,  there  is  a  mound  which  has  the  appearance  ot 
having  been  the  work  of  art.  Mr.  Hill,  from  whose  notes 
much  of  the  above  information  has  been  derived,  states  that 
from  the  want  of  tools  he  was  unable  to  penetrate  it,  to  de- 
termine whether  it  was  stratified  or  not.  it  is  about  ten 
feet  high,  in  the  form  of  a  square,  the  sides  of  which  are 
fifteen  feet  in  length,  flat  on  the  top,  and  slope  regularly  to 
the  base. 

There  is  another  tumulus  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Ontonagon  river, 
six  miles  above  its  mouth,  forty  feet  high,  and  nearly  circular,  which  has 
been  supposed  te  be  artificial,  but  has  not  been  explored  with  a  view  t© 
determine  the  point. 

From  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  31,  township  51,  range  37.,  to 
section  5,  township  49,  range  40,  a  distance  of  nearly  thirty  miles,  theie 
is  almost  a  continuous  line  of  ancient  pits  along  the  middle  range  of  trap, 
thoHgh  they  are  not  exclusively  confined  to  it. 


Upon  Keweenaw  Point  they  have  been  found  extending  from  En 
eastward 


2W 


river  eastward  to  range  28,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles,  along  the  base  ot 
the  trap  range.    A  great  number  of  hammers  were  discovered  on  the 


162 


Doc.  No.  69.  t 


present  site  of  the  Northwest  Company's  works,  which  first  Idd  the  ex- 
plorers to  suspect  the  existence  of  a  valuable  lode  of  copper.  They  have 
also  been  found  at  the  Coppenr  Falls  mine^  and  at  the  Phoenix,  formerly 
the  Lake  Superior,  mine.  At  the  latter  place  a  copper  knife  was  discov- 
ered, in  the  early  explorations  of  that  tract. 

Mr.  C.  G.  Shaw  pointed  out  to  us  similar  evidences  of  mining  an  Isle 
Royale.  They  occur  on  what  is  known  as  the  Middle  Finger,  and  can  be 
traced  lengthwise  for  the  distance  of  a  mile.  Mr,  Shaw  remarks  that, 
on  opening  one  of  these  pits,  which  had  become  filled  up  with  the  sur- 
rounding earth,  he  found  the  mine  had  been  worked  through  the  solid 
rock  to  the  depth  of  nine  feet,  the  walls  being  ijerfectly  smooth.  At  the 
bottom  he  found  a  vein  of  native  copper  eighteen  inches  thick,  including 
a  sheet  of  pure  copper  lying  against  the  foot- wall. 

The  workings  appear  to  have  been  effected  simply  by  stone  hammers 
and  wedges,  specimens  of  which  werS  found  in  great  abundance  at  the 
bottom  of  the  pits.  He  found  no  metallic  implements  oi  any  description, 
and  is  convinced,  from  the  appearance  of  the  wall-rocks,  the  substances 
removed,  and  the  multitude  of  hammers  found,  that  the  labor  of  exca- 
vating the  rock  must  have  been  performed  only  with  the  instruments 
above  fttimed,  with  the  aid  perhaps  of  fire.  From  the  appearance  of  the 
vein  and  the  extent  of  the  workings,  he  conjectures  that  an  immense 
amount  of  labor  had  been  expended.  He  endeavored  to  find  some  evidences 
of  the  antiquity  of  these  workings,  but  could  discover  nothing  very  sat- 
isfactory to  his  own  mind,  except  that  they  were  made  at  a  remote  epoch. 
The  vegetable  matter  had  accumulated  and  filled  up  the  entire  opening  to 
a  level  with  the  surrounding  surface;  and,  in  a  region  where  it  accumu- 
lates as  slowly  as  it  does  on  the  barren  and  rocky  parts  of  Isle  Royale, 
this  filling  up  would  have  been  the  work  of  centuries.  Upon  this  vege- 
table accumulation  he  found  trees  growing  equal  in  size  to  any  in  the 
vicinity. 

All  will  admit  that  the  facts  above  set  forth  a'jsign  to  these  excavations 
a  high  antiquity;  but  whether  they  were  made  by  a  race  distinct  from' the, 
Indians  now  inhabiting  the  region,  is.a  matterof  extreme  doubt,  although 
all  traditions  with  regard  to  their  origin  have  perished. 

A  race  like  the  Indians,  dependent  principally  on  hunting  and  fishing 
for  the  means  of  subsistence,  would  employ  copper,  where  it  was  accessi- 
ble, in  the  construction  of  their  weapons  of  capture,  in  preference  to 
stone,  it  being  more  easily  fashioned  and  less  destructible.  This  would 
naturally  be  expected  in  the  rudest  and  most  simple  state  of  society. 

Among  the  earliest  benefits  derived  from  their  contact  with  the  whites 
would  be  >  n  introduction  of  iron  implements,  which  would  soon  super- 
.sede  those  of  copper.  They  then  would  have  no  interest  in  maintaining 
u  communication  with  the  copper  region,  which  abounded  in  few  animals 
•of  the  chase,  or  in  preserving  among  their  tribe  a  knowledge  of  the 
places  from  which  the  metal  was  obtained.  The  lapse  of  a  century  or 
two  would  obliterate  all  traditions.  We  have  seen  that  the  first  missiona- 
ries arrived  on  the  borders  of  Lake  Superior  as  early  as  1641,  and  it  is 
probable  that  the  tribes  which  they  there  found  had  established  an  inter- 
course with  the  whites  at  Q,uebec  and  Montreal  years  before.     If,  from 


tllVf 


V/  I. 


TAClllfo        iir^    (^/%vi.lH     «>otr*rtt»    itTVini*-    rmrv»Aii»%*    r^C    «^VjiII 


was  displayed  by  the  savages  in  the  art  of  making  metallic  implements, 
and  the  kind  of  material  used,  it  would  throw  much  light  upon  this  point. 


1  r 


!■"■ 


j^.m:m: 


\< 


i6d 


le  ex- 
have 
Hierly 
iscov- 

n  Isle 
;an  be 
3  that, 
le  snr- 
e  solid 
At  the 
lading 

mmers 
I  at  the 
ription, 
stances 
f  exca- 
uments 
i  of  the 
nmense 
idences 
ery  sat- 
i  epoch, 
sning  to 
iccumu- 
I  Roy  ale, 
is  vege- 
y  in  the 


Skulls  form  the  most  distinguishing  feature  between  the  several  tribes 
of  the  human  family;  and  hence  their  discovery — which  may  be  looked 
for  among  these  excavations — will  aflford  authentic  testimony  of  the 
character  of  the  race  by  which  they  were  made. 

NoTB — According  to  Kalm,  (Reise,  th.  3,  ■.  416,)  M.  de  Verandrier,  who  in  1746  was  sent 
apon  an  overland  expedition  intended  to  reacli  the  Pacific,  by  Chevalier  de  Beauharnois,  then 
gsvernor^eneral  of  Canada,  in  the  prairies  900  miles  west  of  Montreal,  found  enormous  maaaea 
t>f  stone,  placed  in  an  upright  po?itioB  by  thahand  of  man,  and  on  one  of  them  was  some? 
thing  which  was  taken  to  be  a  Tartar  ioBCiiption  It  was  engraved  on  a  small  tablet  which  had 
been  let  into  a  pillar  of  cut  stone,  in  which  position  it  was  found.  Some  of  the  Je<tuit8  in  the 
city  of  dnebec  assured  Kalm  that  they  had  seen  aa^  handleil  the  supposed  inscription.  It  wa« 
nrarwards  tfwismitted  to  Count  Maurepaa,  in  Frmce.  Humboldt,  from  whom  we  derive  this 
information,  ( Aspects  of  Nature,  title  Steppes  and  Annotations,^  add^:  "  I  have  asked  several  of 
my  friends  in  France  to  search  out  this  monument,  in  case  it  should  really  be  in  existence,  and 
in  the  coHeetion  of  Coant  Maurepas,  but  without  success."  May  not  this  carved  stone  hove 
been  the  work  oftheoldcopper^mmers?  Verandrierfarther  affirmed  that,  throus^hout entire  days' 
journeys,  traces  of  the  ploughshare  were  discernible;  but  Humboldt  remarks  that  "  the  total 
Ignorance  of  the  primitive  nations  of  America  with  regard  to  this  agricultural  implement,  the 
want  of  draught  cattle,  and  the  great  extent  of  ground  over  which  the  supposed  furrows  are  found, 
all  lead  to  the  conjecture  that  the  singular  appearance  has  been  produced  by  some  effecta  ot 
water  on  tiic  uurface." 

The  surface  of  the  island  of  It^ackinac,  which  lay  in  their  route,  presents  the  appearance  of 
a  ploughed  field.  It  arises  from  the  removal  of  blocks  of  stone  from  their  place  of  bedding  in 
tm  strata  by  the  agency  of  water,  during  the  drift  epoch.  The  earth  is  not  evenly  distributed, 
Um  lies  in  ndgea  tike  graves,  and  well  might  be  mistaken  for  the  remains  of  aboriginal  tillage. 


ivalions 
Tom  the 
lUhough 

fishing 

accessi- 

rence  to 

Is  would 

whites 
In  super- 
jntaining 
animals 
of  the 
sntury  or 
lissiona- 
land  it  is 
in  inter- 
|lf,  from 
of  skill 
lements, 
lis  point. 


'..r 


.  / 


1  r 


MXll 


•*     1 


If' 


r^i 


Doc.  No.  69. 


1 


k  '!.. 


■■■-M^ 


CHAPTER  VI.           -: 

;. _,     i     •_'• 

,      .,»,r.,,..,^-l 

-J  ■! 


VEINS     AND   VEINSTONES. 


?7;e  occurrence  of  copper  in  different  parts  of  the  earth. — Geological  asso- 
ciation.— Definition  of  vexns. — Different  systems. — Length,  icidth,  and 

\.  underlie. —  Their  gangv.es  and  die  changes  ichich  they  undergo  in  their 
passage  through  different  mineral  planes.^— Formatitn  of  veins. — Ma- 
terials composing  tiieirganguf-s,  and  the  order  of  arrai\genient. — Comby 
structure. — Position  of  the  silver  and  of  the  moss  copper. —  Veins  of 
native  copper,  an  anomaly. —  Various  hypotheses  as  to  the  mode  of 
filling.— Injection.— Stiblimation.— Electro-chemical  agency.—  Universal 
diffusion  of  magnetism,   and  its  injlumce  on    the  combinations  of 

.^matter.    ........         ..    .c ...    .,,^  •■„...■  ;■■■;-■ 

'  Before  entering  upon  the  detailed  description  of  the  phenomena  of  the 
veins  of  the  Lake  Superior  district,  it  would  be  proper  to  consider  the 
conditions  under  which  copper  occurs  in  other  portions  of  the  earth,  and 
thus  afford  the  means  of  comparing  this  newly-discovered  district  with 
those  in  which  veins  have  been  wrought  for  centuries.  We  shall  then  be 
able  to  appreciate  the  peculiar,  and  we  may  say  unique,  chavocter  of  the 
Lake  Superior  district,  and  arrive  at  some  general  conclusions  as  to  the 
degree  of  importance  to  be  attached  to  the  facts  developed  in  the  progress 
of  the  explorations. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  how  short  a  time  has  elapsed  since  the  first 
attempts  at  mining  were  made,  and  the  physical  obstacles  which  had  to 
be  overcome  before  the  business  was  established  on  a  firm  basis.  Al- 
though on  the  eastern  continent  mines  have  been  wrought  from  time  im- 
memorial, and  eve'ry  year  has  added  some  ncAv  facts  to  the  mass  already 
collected,  yet  the  theory  of  veins,  their  detailed  structure,  and  the  re- 
lation of  the  various  ores  to  their  gangues  and  the  enclosing  walls  can 
only  be  said  to  be  imperfecdy  understood  in  those  districts  where  the  most 
skill  and  science  have  been  devoted  to  their  investigation.  It  cannot, 
then,  be  expected  that  we  shall  be  able  to  solve  the  various  problems  pre- 
sented in  the  investigation  of  s©  complex  a  subject  in  a  district  where 
mining  '^-xplorations  have  been  carried  on  only  a  few  years,  and  where 
a  small  portion  of  our  time  only  could  be  devoted  to  the  collection  of  the 
facts  brought  to  light. 

The  occurrence  in  this  district  of  powerful  veins  of  native  copper  in 
igneous  rocks  is  a  deviation  from  the  general  rules  found  to  prevail  else- 
where. They  are  confined,  as  we  have  seen  from  the  detailed  geology,  to 
the  bedded  trap,  while  the  rocks  of  the  preceding  epoch — for  instance,  as 
at  the  Prince  mine,  Mamainse,  and  other  places  on  the  Canada  shore, 
where  the  greenstones  have  flowed  over  the  slates — are  characterized  by 
the  presence  of  veins  of  the  sulphurets. 

In  referring  to  the  conditions  under  which  copper  occurs  in  other  re- 
gions, w«  will  commence  Vv'ith  Conr,val! — a  district  best  kn.own  to  the 
American  miner.  This  district  furnishes  all  of  the  tin  and  seven-eighths 
of  the  copper  mined  in  Great  Britain.  There  are  about  112  veins  wrought, 


Doc  No.  69. 


165 


iper  111 
lil  else- 
logy,  to 
lince,  as 
shore, 
Ized  by 

Iher  re- 

to  the 

leighihs 

Irought, 


at  an  annual  expense  of  ^"900,000.  The  rock  in  which  they  are  princi- 
pally developed  is  clay  slate,  or  killas,  as  it  is  termed  by  the  Cornish  mi- 
ners, constituting  the  base  qf  the  Silurian  system,  among  which  the  gran- 
ites and  elvans  have  been  protruded.  The  ores  are  the  yellow  sulphuret 
of  copjjer  and  iron,  with  which  are  associated,  in  the  undecomposed  part 
of  the  vein,  black  sulphuret,  red  oxide,  and  native  copper.  The  ^angue 
of  the  cupriferous  veins  is  almost  exclusively  quartz.  The  average  nf  the 
ore  raised  does  not  probably  exceed  two  and  one-half  per  cent,  but  by  dress 
ing-it  is  brought  up  to  eight  per  cent. 

France  at  present  affords  but  one  workable  mine  of  copper.  Numerous 
minos  have  been  wrought  at  various  periods,  but  at  this  time  they  are 
abandoned.  In  the  Voages,  the  copper  veins  are  associated  with  the 
argillaceous  slates  of  the  carboniferous  era,  among  which  porphyritic  rocks 
have  been  proti*ud*d. 

The  celebrated  mines  of  Chessy,  in  central  France,  are  at  the  junction 
of  the  granite  and  lias. 

Germany. — In  the  Harz  mountains,  the  copper  veins,  with  quartzose 
gangues,  occur  in  graii-wacke  slate,  with  intercalated  lielts  of  trappean 
rocks.       The  product  of  these  mines  does  not  exceed  SjQO  tons.      The 
mines  of  Rheinbreitenbach,  in  the  same  formation,  are  productive  in  pyri-' 
tous  and  variegated  copper,  accompanied  by  a  gangue  entirely  quartzose. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Mansfeld,  in  Prussia,  occurs  the  interesting  deposite 
known  as  the  "kupferschiefer,"  or  copper  slate — a  thin  layer  in  the  zech- 
stein,  throughout  the  whole  thickness  of  which  is  disseminated  gray  ar- 
gentiferous copper  ore,  yielding  about  2. 1  per  cent. 

Near  Schemnitz,  in  Hungary,  is  an  interesting  metalliferous  region, 
which  produces  about  5,U0i)  tons  of  copper  annually,  together  with  g"kl, 
silver,  antimony,  and  other  metals.  The  veins  are  included  in  porphyritic 
ji'ocks,  which  are  connected  with  sienites,  passing  into  granites.  The  pre- 
dominating gangues  are  quartz  and  sulphate  of  baryta^  the  ores,  pyritoms 
and  gray  copper. 

Spain. — The  general  character  of  the  deposites  of  the  metals  in  Spain 
is  similar  to  those  of  theHarz.  The  amount  of  copper  raised  is  trifling, 
compared  with  that  of  lead  and  mercury. 

Nonoatj  and  Sweden. — The  sulphuret  of  copper  and  iron  is  almost  the 
only  ore  obtained  from  the  Scandinavian  mines,-  and  is  very  meagre, 
rarely  exceeding  3  or  4  par  cent.  The  Norwegian  copper  is  highly 
esteemed,   in  consequence  of  its  freedom  from  a:     nic  and  other  metals. 

The  veins  are  principally  confined  to  the  gneiss  and  mica  slate.  The 
famous  mine  of  t.iliuln,  now  nearly  exhausted,  occurs  in  the  latter  rock. 
From  1S38  to  1843,  the  Norwegian  and  Swedish  mines  did  not  yield  over 
1,500  tons  of  pure  copper. 

Russia. — The  Russian  c'^pper  deposites  in  the  Ural  mountains  are  re- 
markable for  the  purity  and  richness  of  thr  ores,  with  which  is  associa- 
ted considerable  native  copper.  They  ha»  been  compared  to  :iu'  veins 
of  Lake  Superior,  but  between  the  two  districts  there  are  {b\v  ;  :  .nts  of 
anal<vgy.  The  most  productive  mines  are  those  of  Tourinsk  tod  NijiM'- 
tagilsk. 

The  chief  mining-ground  at  the  last-named  places  is  a  broken  and  uu> 
consolidated  mass  of  detritus^  containing  thin  veins  and  nests  of  mala- 
chite. It  lies  in  the  depressions  worn  in  the  surface  of  the  upturned  edges 
of  the  limestone  strata  belonging  to  the  upper  portion  of  the  Silunuii 


166 


D(>c.  No.  09. 


rodfs,  fkiDong  whi.  *<  are  intermixed  brotten  ridges  of  &n\fhiho\e  m'sk. 
The  maiactiite  is  un,|ue8tiotiahly  a  secondary  product,  resulting  frovn  a 
■cnpiiferous  folution,  deposited  in  a  stalagmite  form.     Such  is  the  charac- 

if'>'i.:  >'t  the  Russian  deposites. 

'(Alba. — The  average  product  imported  to  England  firc.n  1843  to  1847 
w«8  6,40()  tons  of  pure  copper — the  average  yield  of  iIh^,  an  hmtg  r  little 
over  16  ;>er  cent.  The  copper  deposites  of  Santiago  am  highly  prod' '-tive. 
The  ores  are  not  in  regular  veins,  but  in  beds  uid  r>  ivses,  aubcrdin&te 
to  the  igneous  rocks,  especially  greenstone  and  s^>|w;o  li;*.  The  garw'^ues 
are  quartz,  d\>lomite.  and  carbonate  of  lime.  Thn  yellow  sulnhttrnJ'.  "e 
associated  with  the  hydrated  oxidf  of  iron.  Nati\  a  ooppji  is  ni;;{>obsa5  •  e<i 
in  this  connexion.  The  presence  of  native  silver  in  the  blue  carbon- 
a!:ff  of  copper  is  by  no  means  rare. 

Chili, — -The  average  qisantity  oi ;  opper  smeiiedin  Wales,  from  theoros 
and  black  metal  from  tliis  source,  iVom  1843  to  IS-iT,  was  4,4<)0  t  Ma. 
The  average  yitld  of  ihe  ore  and  black  m<  td  war  31.15  per  c&aX. 

The  copper  veins  are  exr.t  t^dingly  injmeious  «nd  jKoweiful,  and  exist  in 
the  granite.    Ihe  gaagues  are  quartzose  and  laispery. 

AwsV>i^/a, —  5'hese  minea,  though  worked  h\ii&  lew  yefe.s,  me  daily 
rishiiV  !i>  ivnpnnhnce.  Th<;  geological  associatioiri  of  the  rocks  is  similar  lo 
(those  V'*'  Oor  >  valL  iiijls  of  mica  slate  comp«jse  the  Barrossa  distnct; 
m\^l  diswriiHi  Avy  skue,  like  the  kilUts  of  Cornwall,  is  seen  in  the  Adaline 
district.  'i".i  ovigh  these  the  granites  and  sienifcs  have  protruded.  The  ores 
Oi  copper  uic  abundant,  consisting  of  the  red  oxide  and  sulphurets. 

I  lom  <he  verbal  commv.nications  of  Sir  John  Richardson,  we  infer  that 
the  analogy  between  the  Lake  Superior  deposif.es  and  those  of  the  Copper- 
iiiine  rivei  is  very  marked.  The  rocks  consist  t>f  bedded  trap  and  sand- 
stone, with  occasional  layers  of  limestone,  traversed  by  veins  containing 
ijiitive  copper  and  malachite. 

0  ii  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  ores  of  copper  are  confined  to  no  particular 
position  in  the  geological  colinnn,  but  range  from  the  lias  to  the  granite. 
Veins  are  the  principal  epositories  of  most  of  the  valuable  metals  em- 
ployed in  the  arts,  and,  wnether  observed  in  the  Ural  or  the  Harz,  in 
Cornwall  or  on  tho  borders  of  Lake  Superior,  exhibit  certain  features 
in  common — showing  that  their  formation  is  due  to  the  operation  of  gen- 
eral laws. 

They  are  almost  always  found  associated  with  the  igneous  and  meta- 
morpbic  rocks;  but  where  they  occur  in  rocks  purely  denrital,  the  igneous 
rocks  are  generally  found  not  far  removed.  It  is,  therefore,  to  igueous 
fegency  that  we  are  to  attribute  the  formation  of  fissures  and  the  'eggre- 
gatson  of  their  metallic  products. 

Mr.  Carne  remarks:  "  By  a  true  vein,  I  understand  the  mineral  con- 
tents of  a  vertical  or  inclined  fissure,  nearly  straight,  and  of  indefinite 
length  and  depth." 

Werner,  the  great  Saxon  geologist,  defined  veins  as  "  mineral  repos'.to- 
ries,  of  a  flat  or  tubnlar  shape,  which  traversed  *!• ':  strata  without  regard 
to  stratification,  having  the  appearance  of  ren?  f.ssures  formed  in  the 
rocks,  and  afterwards  filled  up  with  mineral  ni  ,  /hich  differed  more  or 
less  from  the  >■■■■  ks  themselves." 

A  true  vei»  ■.  srefore,  may  be  defined  -  '  sure  in  the  solid  crust  of 
the  earth,  oi -.i^jfinite  length  and  depth  'uioti  has  been  filled  more  . 
less  perfectly  with  mineral  substances,  ii»tM,.)ced  by  various  agencies. 


from  a 
chamc- 

tol847 
J  ?  little 
d'.?-.tivc. 
crf)in»te 

carbon* 

I  the  ores 
<HJ  t  ns. 

exfst  in 

ne  <iaily 
simfiar  to 
district; 
s  Adaline 
The  ores 
:ets. 

infer  that 
e  Copper- 
nd  sand- 
ontaining 

►articular 
granite. 

etals  em- 

Harz,  in 
features 

n  of  gon- 

nd  meta- 
8  igneous 
igneous 
le  "eggre- 

leral  coii- 
indefinita 

reposito- 
J>ut  regard 
led  in  the 
Id  more  or 

Id  crust  of 

more 
[agencies. 


Boo.  No.  09. 


167 


inubseqmnt.  to  the  fdtmation  of  the  fissure.  They  diflfer  etsentially  from 
beds,  which  are  gennrally  contemporaneous  with  the  formation  in  which 
they  are  enclosed,  and  range  and  dip  with  the  associated  rocks.  This 
distinction  cahnot  in  all  cases  be  recognised,  since  mineral  deposites  some- 
times present  characteristics  common  to  both. 

Every  mining  distridt  exhibits  certain  systems  of  veins,  which  differ 
from  each  other  in  age,  and  often  in  their  mineral  contents. 

In  Cornwall,  three  sets  have  been  observed,  which  have  been  desig- 
nated by  certain  provincial  appellations  well  understood:  ist.  The  system 
cf  right  running  veins,  which  traverse  the  country  in  a  direction  nearly 
■east  iand  west.  Mr.  Henwood  found,«*as  tlie  mean  of  3('0  observations, 
thAt  the  right-nmning  veins  containing  metalliferous  ores  bore  4°  north 
ofeast  and  south  of  west. 

Another  set,  called  co7//ra»,  intersect  the  main  veins  at  an  angle  of  45°; 
and  still  another  set,  called  cross-cnurses^  intersect  the  rightmnning 
veins  at  nearly  right  angles.  The  first  system  is  the  most  ancient,  be- 
cause it  is  always  traversed  by  the  other  two;  they  are  the  older  tin  veins. 
The  next  are  those  which  contain  tin  and  copper.  The  third  are  the 
«ast-and-west  veins,  which  are  the  most  recent  and  the  most  prod'io.tive 
of  copper.* 

These  veins  vary  from  one  to  four  feet  in  width.  They  ordinarily  ex- 
tend a  few  thousand  feet,  and  some  even  a  mile;  the  great  vein  of  the 
United  mines  has  been,  however,  traced  to  the  distance  of  eight  miles. 

The  direction  of  the  principal  veins  in  Mexico — for  instance,  the  Veta 
Cfrande &nd  VetaMadie — is  northwest  and  southeast,  and  they  are  exhibited 
on  a  scale  of  grandeur  unknown  iii  th^mining  districts  of  Kurope.  Thus 
the  Veta  Madre  has  been  traced  continuously  on  the  surface  for  more 
than  six  miles,  and  expands  in  places  to  the  enormous  width  of  ninety 
feet. 

In  the  Cerro  de  Pasco,  Peru,  noted  for  its  silver  ores,  one  set  of  veins, 
according  to  Tschudi,  bears  north  and  south,  which  is  intersected  by 
another  set  bearing  east  southeast  and  west- north  west.  The  Veta  tie 
Cultfuirica  has  been  traced  to  the  distance  of  nine  thousand  six  hun- 
dred feet,  and  it  expands  to  the  width  of  four  hundred  and  twelve  feet. 
This  bek)ngs  to  the  first-mentioned  class.  The  Veta  de  Pariarircm, 
which  belongs  to  the  second  class,  is  known  to  extend  six  thousand 
foat  hrmdrcd  feet  in  length,  and  three  hundred  and  eighty  feet  in  breadth. 
From  these  large  veins,  numerous  small  ones  branch  otf  in  various  direc- 
tions, forming  &  complete  network  of  silver  beneath  the  surface. 

A  vein  of  two  ov  three  feet  in  width  can  probably  be  as  economically 
Wrought  as  one  of  much  greater  expansion;  the  ores  are  more  concen- 
trated, and  the  expense  of  securing  the  work  by  timbers  is  proportionately 
less. 

VeijTfH  nf  Kev};  "naiD  Poittt. — On  Keweenaw  Point,  one  system  of  veins 
if  .  ; M  a^fine<fj.     Their  bearing  is  north  of  west — the  mean  of  seveml  ob- 

'vations  givui^  north  2l^°  west.  So  true  is  this,  that  no  permanently 
productive  vein  has  been  dis<*ovcred  thus  far  which  varied  15°  from  this 
course,  whi^ih  is  at  nearly  rir  it  angles  to  the  formation,  or  axis  of  uphea- 
val. These  veins,  in  their  downward  course,  deviate  more  or  less  from 
a  perpendicular,  amounung  to  8°  or  IC^jOr  ev 


,^^  1  oo 
^11  xa    . 


They  also  expand 


*  instead  oa  Mining,  Lecture  XV. 


168 


Doc.  No.  6^. 


and  contract' at  short  intervals,  which  resnlts  from  the  lateral  and  verticaJ 
dislocations  to  which  the  walls  have  been  subjected.  The  Cliff  vein 
affords  an  illustration  of  this  kind,  a  section  of  which  is  subjoined;  v#»i*t 


Pie.  33. 


0.   wal'«  nearly  in  contact. 

6.  Vein  nearly  vortical,  displiryins  two  layers  or  coniba — aeon  in  the  fourth  level 

north  of  the  main  vhaft. 
c  Veinatone,  brecriqied  ;  east  layer  only  teen  ;  vein  pinched  and  in«ch  inclined^ 
d.  East  layer  now  seen.  '    .      ^         ,  , 

/.  Vein  perpendicular,  and  expHn.Iing  in  width.'<^«l!'/^tsf  B(8tfi'»«»  ^M  if-^mnv 

Not  more  than  one  half  of  the  east  comb  is  represented  in  the 
fissure.  The  miners  call  it  a  "splice  in  the  vein."  These 
t  splices  will  be  found  to  occur  wherever  the  vein  becomes  nearly 
vertical.  They  fill  the  vein  just  above  the  points  where  the 
walls  nearly  come  in  contact,  and  run  ont  on  the  overhanging 
wall,  leaving  the  west  comb  to  occupy  the-more  inclined  ana 
contracted  parts  of  the  fissure.  The  brecciated  veinstone  is  al- 
ways Ibund  just  above  the  points  where  the  walls  nearly  come 
in  contact.  These  expansions  and  contractions  in  the  vein  re- 
sult fi'om  a  vertical  dislocation  of  the  enclosing  walls.  If  apiece 
of  paper  be  cut  in  a  waving,  irregular  line,  and  one  part  slipped  beyond 
the  other,  it  will  represent  pretty  correctly  the  irregularities  of  a  vein. 
The  surfaces  of  the  fissure,  or  rather  the  walls,  are  polished  and  striated, 
resulting  from  the  repeated  sliy)pings  of  the  mass. 

Veins  in  the  Ontmiagon  region. — A  different  system  of  veins  prevails 
here.  The  veins  run  with  the 'formation,  instead  of  CHttmg  it  at  right 
angles,  like  those  of  Keweenaw  Point.  In  the  St.  Agnes,  Gwennap,  Red- 
ruth, and  Camlwrne  districts,  in  Cornwall,  according  to  De  la  Beche,  the 
general  coincidence  of  the  lines  of  bearing  of  the  tin  and  copper  lodes 
with  ihe  lines  of  elvans  is  particularly  remarkable. 

In  describing  the  peculiarities  of  the  trappean  rocks,  we  stated  that 
whenever  they  approached  the  detrital  rocks,  as  a  genera)  thing,  they  as- 
sumed a  stratiform  appearance;  and  this  remark  is  applicable  to  this  re- 
gion. The  fissures  appear  to  have  been  formed  along  these  lines,  and 
,  correspond  in  bearing  and  underlie  t«  the  bearing  and  dip  of  the  asso- 
ciated sedimentary  rocks. 

Of  this  class  of  veins,  the  Douglass  Houghton,  the  Forest,  and  the 
Minnesota  are  marked  examples.-  Some  have  supposed,  from  the  comci- 
dence  in  the  bearing  and  underlie  of  these  fissures  with  those  of  the  sedi- 
mentary rocks,  that  they  were  of  contemporaneous  origin — in  fact,  that 
they  were  simply  beds.  We  do  not,  however,  regard  them  in  this  light. 
Take,  for  example,  the  Minnesota  vein.  The  walls  are  polished  ancl 
striated,  and  the  mineral  matter  composing  the  gangue  is  distinct  in  char- 
acter from  the  enclosing  rock.  The  vein  exhibits  numerous  strings  and 
feeders,  and,  wherever  these  intersect  it,  marks  of  derangement  are  ob- 
servable. The  veinstone  ig  arranged  in  combs,  like  that  of  the  vertical 
fissures.  These  peculiarities  are  sufficiently  marked  to  justify  us  in  re- 
garding them  as  true  veins. 

There  is  another  class  of  deposites  whose  course  and  underlie  corres- 
pond to  the  course  and  dip  of  the  adjacent  sedimentary  deposites.    We  re 
gard  them,  as  beds,  contfimpnraneons  with  the  associj^'-ed  rocks.    They 
•differ  from  the  fissures  last  described  in  these  particulurs:    They  are  iok 


\W 


Hioc.  No.  m. 


m 


18  111  Te- 

eorres- 
We  re 
They 
are  iiiv 


perfectly  defined,  there  being  no  clear  lines  of  junction  with  the  wkWn; 
are  very  irregular  in  their  course,  exhibiting  nothing  like  parallelism  for  a 
considerable  distance;  and  the  mineral  matter  with  which  the  copper  is  as- 
sociated is  never  arranged  in  combs  or  lamellar  plates.  They  are  known 
as  "epidote  veins,"  the  gangue  consisting  of  epidote  and  quartz,  with 
native  copper.  They  appear  to  be  the  result  of  seegregation,  rather  than 
iiyection,  and  are  as  rich  at  the  surface  as  at  any  given  depth.  This  class 
of  beds  is  generally  associated  with  the  quart/ose  porphyries  of  the  re- 
gion west  of  the  Ontonagon  river  and  the  Porcupine  mountains. 

Numerous  explorations  of  these  beds  hav,e  been  made,  but  in  no  in- 
stance successfully. 

The  quartzose  porphyries  are  also  traversed  by  a  set  of  narrow  irregu- 
lar fissures,  nearly  vertical,  filled  in  with  quartz,  and  for  the  most  part 
barren  of  copjier. 

In  this  connexion,  we  may  mention  still  another  class  of  deposites. 
Between  the  trappeau  and  detrital  rocks  is  often  interposed  a  bed  of  chlo- 
rite, three  or  four  feet  in  width,  through  which  copper  is  found  dissemi- 
nated in  Jimall  bunches.  The  Union  mine,  now  abandoned,  on  the  Little 
Iron  river,  at  the  base  of  the  Porcupine  mountains,  is  an  illustration  of 
this  kind. 

Veins  of  Isle  Roynle. — The  veins  of  Isle  Royale  are  more  complicated 
than  those  of  the  districts  we  have  before  described^  There  are  several 
systems,  but  the  explorations  have  not  been  sufficient  to  enable  us  to  de- 
termine their  relative  ages. 

One  system  of  veins  bears  nearly  east  and  west,  corresponding  with 
the  bearing  of  the  associated  sedimentary  rocks;  but  while  the  former 
dip  to  the  northwest  at  an  angle  of  76°,  the  latter  dip  to  the  south-south- 
east at  an  angle  of  12^  or  14°.  To  this  class  belong  th'  Siskawit  and 
Scovill  vein  and  the  Duncan  vein,  or  section  34,  township  06,  range  34, 
on  the  lease  of  the  Ohio  and  Isle  Royale  company. 

Another  class  may  be  appropriately  called  bec^p,  having  a  be  ..  ^  and 
dip  conformable  to  those  of  the  detritd  rocks.  This  class  is  seen  near 
the  head  of  Rock  ITarbor,  and  at  a  place  on  the  southern  shore  of  the 
island  which  bears  the  classical  appellation  of  Epidote. 
r  There  is  another  system  of  fissures  which  run  nearly  north  and  south, 
at  right  angles  with  the  axis  of  elevation,  and  dip  from  10°  to  20°  to  the 
east.  To  this  class  may  be  referred  the  vein  now  wrought  by  the  Pitts- 
burg and  Isle  Royale  Company  at  Todd's  Harbor,  and  the  powerful  vein 
on  Phelps's  island,  at  the  outlet  of  Washington  Harbor.  Nurnf^rous  fis- 
sures holding  the  same  course  may  be  seen  between  Siskawit  bay  and 
Rock  Harbor.  tuov.' 

Few  .veins  exhibit  their  true  character  on  the  surface,  a  lucti  arises 
probably  from  the  oxidation  of  the  materials  composing  the  gangue. 
Owing  to  the  nature  of  the  country,  it  is  impossible  to  trace  the  veins  con- 
tinuously for  any  considerable  distance;  but  we  have  satisfied  ourselves 
that  some  continue  six,  and  even  eight  miles.  They  rarely  exceed  four  feet 
in  width.  The  ayerage  width  of  the  best  veins  thus  far  developed  does 
not  exceed  two  feet.  Few  faults  have  as  yet  been  observed  to  interrupt 
their    ^^   nuity. 

H-      :  ,  thus  endeavored  to  define  the  different  systems  of  veins  in  this 
will  next  consider  their  gangues,  or  matericds  composing  ilie 


reffion 


•a 


v.,«  % 


mo 


Doc;no.4P. 


m 


§ 


lieirut&n^,  as  veil  as  the  changes  tikidk  th«y  uniergo  in  their  pe^mgt 
tkrov  h  d^ereia  racks. 

The  gangues  of  veins  desenre  to  be  closely  scrutinized  by  the  miner, 
since  a  knowlerlge  of  their  peculiarities  is  of  great  praetical  importance  in 
enabling  him  to  judge  of  the  probablo  productiveness  of  a  vein.  The 
gangues  of  th-  most  productive  veins  in  this  region  consist  of  an  admix- 
ture of  calc-spar,  ch^rite,  epidote,  laumonite,  and  <1nisy  quartz.  Prehnite, 
fluw  spar,  an  ..  ,  .  >lite,  mesoty]ie,  apophyllite,  and  table  spar  are 
occasiona'lv  iriftl  wvh.  but  their  presence  may  be  regarded  as  acnidenttd. 
In  no  insiuace  i.as  a  purely  spar  vein  been  found  productive.  The  same 
remark  \.i!l  apply  to  the  quartz  veins. 

In  other  countries,  the  miner  judges  of  the  character  of  the  lode  by  the 
character  of  the  veinstone.  Thus,  in  Cornwall,  above  the  veins  whet« 
rich  deposites  of  copper  occur  is  a  mass  of  ferruginous  matter,  called  by  the 
mi'iers  gossan. 

In  th«  Harz,  a  red  oxide  of  iron,  known  as  chapeau  de  fer,  caps  the 
lead  and  silver  ores,  and  when  struck  affords  tlie  miner  almost  unerring 
indications  of  the  proximity  of  rich  deptisites. 

It  is  deemed  unnecessary  here  to  deiscribe  the  character  of  the  veih- 
. tones  with  more  minuteness,  inasmuch  as  detailed  information  will  be 
uund  under  the  appropria  <*  head  in  the  Table  of  Mines. 

The  productiveness  of  a  vein  is  also  influenced  by  the  character  of  the 
enclosing  rock.  Where  it  exists  in  the  greenstone  or  hani  crystalline  fock, 
it  is  pinched;  where  it  enters  the  soft  porous  amygdaloid,  it  becomes  scaft- 
tered  nnd  ill  defined;  and  in  its  passage  tliroug*h  a  belt  of  conglomerate,  it 
almost  always  ceases  to  be  metalliferous. 

The  most  favorable  rock — Uiat  in  which  a  vein  is  best  developed — is  a 
granular  trap,  with  occasional  amygdules  scattered  tl.  agh  it  of  a  lur*!/ 
color,  and  possessing  a  good  degree  ol  firmness. 

Thi3  kind  of  rock  belongs  to  the  bedded  trap.  No  veins  of  native 
copper  have  been  found  except  in  this  association. 

The  influence  of  the  enclosing  rock  upon  the  productiveness  of  a  vein, 
and  the  change  in  its  mineral  contents  in  passing  through  difierent  belts 
of  rock,  have  been  observed  in  other  regions. 

"Granite,  or  its  modification,  elvan,"  remarks  I)e  la  Beche,  in  his 
Survey  ot  Cornwall ,  "is  fou  nd  near  all  the  localities  Where  tin  and  copper 
ores  so  abonnd  as  tr  be  worked  and  produce  good  mines;  while  lead, 
antimony,  ma^-ganese,  iron,  -o  A  zinc  are  discovered  in  sufficient  quanti- 
ties to  be  profitably  raised  at  a  distance  from  granite  or  elvan.  As  far  as 
the  two  counties  of  Cornwall  and  Devon  are  concerned,  the  conditions 
favorable  for  :  n  and  copper  ores  seem  infavoroble  for  those  of  lead. 
Valuable  mines  in  the  granit-^  become  worthless  when  they  pass  into  the 
slates." 

*o  M.     ournet,  veins  passing  from  argillaceotis 
•eir    reductive  character.   Hard  granites,  as  a 
t'   m  the  soft  decomposed  kinds, 
•vliici    veins  undergo  in  their  passage  through 
different  beds  of  rock  in  this  distiict,  a  few  exatnples  will  be  cited. 

We  have  described  the  range  of  hills  in  which  the  Cliff  and  North 
American  mines  are  situated  as  composed  of  crystalline  greenstone  at  the 
summit,  and  a  gratuilar  trap,  somtiwhat  amygdaloidal,  at  the  base.  The 
same  remark  will  apply  to  the  Northwest  and  Northwestern  mines.    la 


In  the  Harz,  according 
slate  into  cheny  slate  los' 
general  thing,  are  less  pt 

To  show  tb3  changes 


pMsage 

•nil 

t«  minef , 
rtance  in 
n.  The 
n  admix- 
Prehnite, 
spat  are 
xidentsd. 
Vhe  sanoe 

de  by  the 
lis  whete 
ed  by  the 

,  caps  the 
:  unerring 

the  veih- 
in  will  be 

Iter  of  the 
line  focic, 
smes  scaft- 
>merate,  it 

*ped — is  a 
)f  a  live!/ 

of  native 

of  a  vein, 
reril  belts 

le,  in  his 
nd  copper 
hile  lead, 
nt  quantl- 
As  far  as 
conditions 
of  lead, 
s  into  the 

jillaceoils 
liites,  as  a 

through 
fed. 

Ind  North 
me  at  the 
ise.  The 
lines.    In 


Ubo.  No.iD. 


171 


the  greenstone  the  veiDs  ^  contracted  and  barren,  but  on  entering  the 
granular  trap  they  becon  xpended  and  give  evidence  at  onco  of  their 
true  character. 

At  the  Copper  Falls  mine,  the  vein  in  the  northern  tfap  belt  wt..)  well 
defined  and  productive;  but  on  entering  the  belt  of  sand^^tone  to  the  south, 
it  contracted  to  a  mere  ftssure.  This  belt  was  perforated,  but  the  miners 
did  not  succeed  in  recovering  the  vein  in  the  southern  trap  belt.  ( Viile 
section  of  the  works  in  the  chapter  on  mines.) 

Mr.  Hill  traced  a  vein  which  appears  near  the  lake  shore  by  Copper 
Harbor  through  successive  belts  of  conglomerate  and  trap,  and  thus 
describes  the  changes:  This  vein  is  on  sections  25  and  30,  township  5^, 
range  29,  and  township  68,  range  29.  It  is  distinctly  marked  on  the  sur- 
iice  through  the  above-named  sections,  and  can  be  examined  every  few 
yards  on  the  line  of  bearing.  It  varies  but  little  in  its  general  course 
from  north  to  south,  and  underlies  slightly  to  the  oast.  Its  width  in  the 
first  belt  of  sandstone  and  conglomerate  is  tws  feet,  and  its  gangue  consists 
of '^  ilc-spar,  with  some  native  copper.  Its  width  in  the  first  trap  belt  is  14 
inches,  and  its  gangue  consists  of  calc-spar  and  lautnonite,  with  native 
copper  disseminated.  In  the  main  range  of  conglomerate  it  expands  to 
two  and  a  half  feet,  ^nd  is  filled  in  with  calc-spar,  and  exhibits  no  trace 
of copper. 

The  large  spaj  vein  known  as  the  "Green  Rock"  among  the  early  voy- 
ageurs,  which  strikes  the  shore  at  Hays's  Point,  Copper  Harber,  is  un- 
doubtedly a  tjontinuation  of  the  black  oxide  vein  a  few  rods  east  of  Fort 
Wilkins.  In  the  first  conglomerate  belt,  the  spar  was  associated  with 
the  green  and  blue  silicates  of  copper.  In  the  second  conglomerate  belt, 
it  contained,  in  addition  to  the  silicates,  large  masses  of  olack  oxide  of 
copper. 

In  the  bottom  of  the  harbor,  when  the  water  is  tranquil,  a  spar  veirt, 
lostitute  of  copper,  is  seen  in  the  included   trap,  corresponding  to  the 
direction  of  the  vein  in  the  conglomerate  on  either  side. 

Thus  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  veins  of  Keweenaw  Point 
traverse  different  mineral  planes,  and,  in  their  passage  through  them,  un- 

rgo  marked  changes  in  their  gangues  and  metallic  contents. 
h\  Isle  Royale,  the  veins  exhibit  the  same  changes.  Mr.  Shaw  sank  a 
bfiaft  on  a  vein,  above  Scovill's  Point,  to  the  depth  of  ninety  six  feet. 
For  thirty  feet  the  rock  was  soft,  in  which  the  vein  was  well  developed, 
expanding  in  places  to  four  leet  in  width,  and  containing  considerable  cop- 
per. At  that  depth  a  band  of  columnar  trap  wa?  struck  and  penetrated 
to  the  depth  of  sixty-six  feet.  The  vein  contrioted  ^>  a  foot  in  width, 
and  was  nearly  barren  and  worthless. 

Mr.  Whittlesey,  the  former  agent  of  the  Siskawit  iiiine,  informed  us  that, 
at  their  works,  the  columnar  trap  was  intersected  at  the  depth  y'^{  thirty- 
five  feet;  that  the  vein  was  well  exposed  m  the  overlying  amygdaloidal 
trap,  but  that  on  entering  the  columnar  trap  it  narrowed  to  a  mere  fissure. 

The  same  resui  ^  followed  tjie  explorations  on  section  27,  township  66, 
range  34,  belonging  to  thp  Ohio  and  Isle  Royale  Company. 

On  section  iS,  township  67,  range  33,  a  vein  bearing  north  50°  east, 
the  gangue  of  which  consists  of  quartz,  chlorite,  and  calc-spar,  with  con- 
siderable native  copper,  is  seen  traversing  a  trappean  rock  composed  of 
hortibiende  and  feldspar,  higlily  crystalline.    Mr.  Shaw  sank  on  this  vein 


172 


Doc.  No.  69. 


^    I 


to  the  depth  of  fifteen  feet,  when  he  intersected  a  dark  nornbiend'A  trap, 
,  in  which  the  vein  lost  its  character  and  became  won!  i^ss.       '  v  fri  w.i 

The  most  striking  illustration  of  the  changes  of  '.  vein  in  Us  passage 
through  differ^it  nnneral  planes  is  to  be  seen  on  the  northwest  coast  of 
this  island.  The  cliffs  consist  of  numerous  alternations  of  greenstone 
and  porphyry,  which  are  cut  by  a  vein  varying  from  a  frtw 
inches  to  two  feet  in  width.  The  upper  portion  of 
the  vein  ut  a,  is  made  up  of  trappean  matter;  a  few  feet 
lower  down,  at  6,  the  gangue  is  entirely  qnartzose;  still 
lower  it  gives  place  to  calc-spar.  It  may  be  seen  in  the 
annexed  figure;  p,  p,  p,  represent  bands  of  porphyry;  of, 
the  lowest  band  of  ix)rphyry  seen,  which  is  amygdaloidal, 
the  cavities  being  filled  with  calc-spar,  below  which  point 
tliis  substance  entirely  fills  the  space  betweeen  the  walls, 
indioating  a  common  origin  of  the  calcareous  matter  both 
of  the  vein  and  the  porphyritic  band.  The  bands  of 
phophyry  are  separated  from  the  trap  by  thin  layers  of 

laUniOnite.  re:-:,  i..  <  .|<»  <-,!ii'it>'^,»    yij  ;^     -wi     i,:v;U  j- n.  Mti 

,  . .  ■         ■    ''v   '• .  ■    ■       ■■......, 

Formation  of  veins. — The  manner  in  which  veins  oqiur  would  seem 
to  indicate  that  they  were  rents  or  fissures  formed  subsequently  to  the  con- 
solidation of  the  different  mineral  planes.  The  parallelism  exhibited  in 
the  same  system  of  veins  would  further  indicate  that  thSir  direction  had 
been  determined,  not  by  fortuitous  circumstances,  but  by  the  operation  of 
general  laws. 

The  materials  composing  the  gangue  of  veins  are  often  arranged  in 

f)arallel  plates,  constituting  what  the  Cornish  miners  call  comby  lodes.  De 
aBeche  supposes  that  this  arrangement  resulted  from  successive  openings 
of  the  fissure.  ',:,,>' 

The  following  is  a  section  of  the  gangue  of  a  vein  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  10,  township  60,  range  39,  Isle  Royale: 

1.  Laumonite,  half  of  aninch.  I' 

2.  Prehnite,  wjlh  native  copper,  two  inches. 

3.  Clay,  pfobably  decomposed  chlorite,  one 
inch. 

This  vein  appears  to  have  been  subject  to  three 
successive  openings. 

The  east  vein  of  th<.'  Northwest  Company  ex- 
hibits two  combs:  that  attached  to  the  loot- wall, 
six  inches  in  width,  is  composed  of  calc-spar  with 
little  copper;  that  attached  to  the  hanging- wall, 
.'•(f    •    '^     :,  "i'  i     ::r    :     twelve   inches   in  width,  consists  ot   chlorite, 
quartz,  and  calc-spar,  investing  copper  in  spangles  and  masses. 

We  have  given  sections  of  several  veins  in  ihe  chapter  on  mines,  and 
they  may  be  referred  to  in  the  further  illustration  of  the  structure  of  the 
veins  of  this  region. 

In  the  Cliff  vein,  there  are  two  combs — that  attached  to  vthe  foot- 
wall  containing  most  of  the  masses,  while  the  other  carries  disseminated 
copper. 

The  sheets  of  native  copper,  as  a  general  thing,  though  not  invariably 
occupy  the  foot-wall  of  the  vein. 


lirt 

»»  llClti 


ciysiais  occur  mvesiiug  me  w;'iis,  wiui  uieir 


faces 


opposue, 


ido  trap, 

passage 
;  coast  ot 
eenstone 
)m  a  frtw 
)rtion  of 
few  feet 
ose;  still 
on  in  the 
ihyry;  </, 
^daloidal, 
lich  point 
he  walls, 
itter  both 
bauds  of 
layers  of 

uld  seem 
0  the  con- 
hibited  in 
iction  had 
)eraiion  of 

rranged  in 

llodes.  De 

openings 

southeast 


o  inches, 
lorite,  one 

let  to  three 

ipany  ex- 
Ibot-wall, 
-spar  with 
jing-wall, 
chlorite, 

|iines,  and 
ire  of  the 

l.the  foot- 
semiuated 

invariably 

opposite, 


DokJ.  No.  6§; 


IW 


whether  separated  or  interlocked,  they  afford  strong  presumptive  evidence 
of  the  orginal  width  of  the  fissure. 

The  Prince  vein,  Canada  shore,  affords  a  beautiful  illustration  of  this. 
The  vein  on  Spar  island  is  about  fourteen  feet  in  width,  iho  walls  being  ' 
invested  with  amathystine quartz,  with  the  faces  turned  outwards,  occu- " 
pying  two  feet  in  width,  while  the  intermediate  space  is  filled  in  for  the 
most  part  with  calc-spar  and  pyritous  copper. 

It  is  difficult  to  determine  the  order  in  which  the  materials  composing 
the  matrix  of  veins  were  deposited.  In  some  cases  the  earthy  substances 
were  deposited  before  the  metallic,  and  in  others  it  is  evident  that  copper 
existed  m  the  fissures  before  the  process  of  filling  was  complete.  It  is 
probable,  however,  that  the  copper  was  formed  at  different  times. 

At  the  Copper  Falls  mine,  for  example,  we  find  small  specks  of  copper 
enclosed  in  ootuse  rhomboidal  crystals  of  calc-spar,  variously  modified; 
again,  we  find  native  copper  deposited  arot//i</ crystals  of  analcime  and 
calc-spar,  taking  the  form  of  the  faces  of  the  crystals,  every  line  and  wave 
being  faithfully  represented,  as  in  the  electrotype  process.  The  copper 
often  appears  in  arborescent  forms,  invested  with  calc-spar. 

The  Prince  mine  affords  specimens  of  dogtooth  spat,  studded  with 
minute  crystals  of  bi-sulphuret  of  copper,  while  the  vitreous  copper  is  often 
enclosed  in  a  matrix  of  carbonate  of  lime. 

The  silver  in  this  vein  is  found  in  thin  leaves,  between  the  laminae  or 
joints  of  the  crytrallized  spar,  indicating  that  it  was  deposited  subsequent 
to  the  filling  of  the  vein. 

At  the  Minnesota  mine  it  is  not  iinusii-al  to  find  spongifonn  copper  ad- 
hering to  the  walls,  which  would  seem  to  indicate  that  copper  was  the 
first  substance  deposited  in  the  fissure.  Again  we  find  it  deposited  in 
thin  plates  between  the  joints  of  the  crystallized  quartz,  which  would  in- 
dicate that  the  latter  was  deposited  subsequent  to  the  former.  We  have 
before  us  a  specimen  from  this  mine,  consisting  of  native  copper,  native 
silver,  crystallizeJ  quartz,  and  carbonate  of  lime,  (calc-spar.)  The  copper 
and  silver  are  distinct,  and  appear  to  be  chemically  pure.  The  form  of 
the  crystals  of  quartz  is  impressed  on  the  silver  and  copper,  and  in  the 
body  of  the  crystals  there  is  no  trace  of  a  metallic  substance.  The  calc- 
spar,  however,  conforms  to  the  silver  and  copper,  both  of  these  metals  be- 
ing disseminated  through  it.  The  silver  occurs  in  imperfect  octohedra  6t 
the  size  of  a  pea. 

This  arrangement  would  seem  to  indicate  the  following  order  in  the  de- 
position of  the  materials:  1.  fltoartz ;  2.  Copper  and  silver;  3.  Calc-spar. 

At  the  Cliff  and  North  Amracan  mines  perfect  crystals  of  copper  occur 
only  in  the  cavities  of  the  matrix;  when  in  contact  with  quartz,  it  takes 
the  form  of  this  substance.  i 

The  inference  from  these  facts  is,  that  some  of  the  earthy  materials  con- 
stituting the  veinstone  were  deposited  prior  to  the  copper  and  silver,  while 
Others  were  subsequent  in  their  deposition. 

The  silver  is  generally  found  to  occupy  a  certain  position  in  the  lode. 
Thus,  at  the  Copper  Falls  mine,  it  is  most  abundant  near  the  junction  of 
the  trap  and  conglomerate  on  the  north;  at  the  Cliff  mine,  near  the  junc- 
tion of  the  crystalline  greenstone  and  granular  trap.  Although  silver  is 
intimately  associated  with  the  copper,  yet  it  does  not  occur  in  sufficient 
Quantity  to  justify  the  expense  of  separating  the  two  metals.  The  lodes  are 
frequently  brecciated    the  angular  fwgnients  evidentiy  having  been  de- 


li 


174 


Doc.  No.  6^. 


rived  from  the  'adjacent  walls — and  are  most  abundant  above  the  poin  a 
where  the  fissure  is  nearly  closed. 

Mode  of  formation. — Having  endeavored  tc  set  forth  the  principal  phe- 
nomena  of  the  veins  of  the  Lake  Superior  district,  we  propose  to  advert  to 
the  principal  theories  which  have  been  advanced  to  explain  the  method 
by  which  tho  process  of  filling  has  been  accompUshed. 

Native  copper  is  often  found  in  veins  abounding  in  sulphurets,  but  un- 
der circumstances  very  different  from  what  are  observed  in  the  Lake  Su- 
perior district.  Its  presence  is  thus  described  and  explained  by  De  la 
Beche.*  Beneath  the  gossan,  which  results  from  decomposition  of  the 
ore,  we  observe  appearances  strongly  reminding  us  of  the  common  electro- 
type process  for  procuring  copper  from  a  solution  of  sulphate  of  copper. 
The  pure  metal  is  gathered  together  in  chinks  and  cavities  between  the 
main  mass  of  gossan  and  the  body  of  the  undecomposed  copper  pyrites, 
mingling  perhaps  with  the  lower  part  of  the  fonner.  Sometimes  this  na- 
tive copper,  as  it  is  called,  may  retain  its  metallic  character;  but  at  others 
it  becomes  converted  into  an  oxide,  and  this  again  into  a  carbonate,  by 
the  percolation  of  waters  containing  common  air  and  carbonic  acid. 

It  is  probable  that  the  sulphur,  by  a  union  with  the  needful  oxygen,  be- 
came sulphuric  acid,  and  that,  this  formed,  the  copper  was  attacked  and 
removed,  to  be  dealt  with  like  any  other  solution  of  the  sulphate  of  copper. 

Three  theories  have  beeii  suggested  to  account  for  the  filling  of  vems: 

1st.  That  the  foreign  matter  has  been  injected  in  a  molten  state,  and 
afterwards  slowly  crystallized. 

2d.  That  the  volatile  matters  have  been  slowly  sublimed  from  below 
by  heat,  and  condensed  upon  the  walls  of  the  fissure. 

3d.  That  the  materials  were  once  held  in  aqueous  solution,  and  pro- 
cipitated  by  electro-chemical  agency .f 

1.  Injection. — We  can  hardly  conceive  it  possible  that  the  copper,  in  a 
fluid  state,  has  been  forced  up  from  below  like  dikes  of  porphyry  or  green- 
stone. It  is  well  known  that,  in  many  of  the  loftiest  volcanoes,  the  col- 
umn of  lava  does  not  rise  to  the  lip  of  the  crater,  but  breaks  through  the 
sides  of  the  mountain.  An  elastic  force  sufficient  to  raise  a  fluid  mass  of 
tiiree  times  the  density  of  lava  v^ould  shatter  the  enclosing  walls,  and 
force  the  copper  into  the  fissures.  If  this  were  its  origin,  we  ought  to 
find  it  occupying  the  depressions  in  the  surface  rocks  in  the  vicinity  of 
tlie  fissures,  hke  modern  lava  currents. 

We  find  the  copper  investing  various  crystallized  minerals,  and  every 
"wave  and  stria  of  the  pre-existing  crystalsMS  faithfully  represented.  It 
is  impossible,  by  any  artificial  method,  to  Wst  any  metal, so  as  to  exhibit 
such  minute  lines.  They  are  as  deUcate  and  faithful  as  could  be  ob- 
tained by  the  electrotype. 

Again,  the  associated  minerals  do  not  exhibit  the  effects  of  a  high  tem- 
perature. These  consist  of  zeolites,  which  yield  potash,  soda,  and  lime, 
and  hold  a  large  percentage  of  water  of  combination,  and  of  carbonate  of 

Admirality  Manual,  title  Mineralogy. 

t  In  thoFic  veins  which  are  widest  near  the  surface,  and  gradually  contract  in  their  downward 
progrrss,  tiie  foreign  matter  has  been  undoubtedly  introduced  from  above ;  antl  even  in  those 
veins  which  increase  in  width  as  they  descend,  occasional  fragments  derived  from  the  surface 
have  bren  met  with.  Thus  Came  states  that,  at  the  RelistraT  •  ine,  Cornwall,  quartz  pebbles, 
cet.iented  by  oxide  of  tin  and  bisulphuret  of  copper,  have  been  ;  H  nt  the  depth  of  600  fsct  in  a 
tin  iode.    The  black  oxide  vein  at  Copper  Harbor  belo'v  '  ♦?  thin  c'mb. 


2. 


Doc.  No.  69» 


175 


win  is 

I  phe- 
rert  to 
ethod 

iitun- 
ce  Su- 
Do  la 
of  the 
ilectro- 
iopper. 
sen  the 
)yrites, 
lis  na- 
others 
ate,  by 

;en,be« 
:ed  and 
copper. 
'  veins: 
\Xe,  and 

a  below 

|indpro. 

er,  in  a 
green- 
the  col- 
li gh  the 
mass  of 
Is,  and 
ught  to 
inity  of 

d  every 
ted.  It 
1  exhibit 
be  ob- 

zh  tem- 

lime, 

mate  of 


fnward 

in  those 

lie  surface 

pebbles, 

!  feet  in  a 


lime,  (calc  spar  and  andaUisite,)  and  earthy  silicious  minerals,  (qnartz, 
agates,  <fec.)— all  of  which  may  be  supposed  to  have  resulted  from  the 
precipitation  of  aqueous  solutions,  rather  than  from  fusion  under  pressure. 

Again,  if  the  contents  of  the  veins  were  the  result  of  injection,  their 
productiveness  would  bo  unaffected  in  their  passage  through  different 
mineral  planes. 

Lastly,  copper  and  silver  combine  in  indefinite  proportions,  forming  a 
homogeneous  compound;  and  yet  we  find  them  existing  side  by  side  al- 
most chemically  pure.  Admitting  that  they  once  formed  a  homogeneous 
compound,  it  is  reasonable  to  infer  that  they  have  been  separated  by  elec- 
tro-chemical agency. 

2.  Sublvmatmn. — This  theory  explains  some  of  the  phenomena  of 
mineral  veins  which  the  preceding  theory  does  not.  Thus,  in  some 
veins,  crystals  of  earthy  .materials  line  the  walls,  whose  under  surfaces 
are  studded  with  minute  metallic  particles,  while  the  upper  surfaces  are 
quite  smooth. 

Iron  glance  is  formed  at  this  day  in  fissures  on  the  margins  of  the  cra- 
ters of  Vesuvius  and  Stromboii.  The  volatile  particles  are  raised  by  heat, 
and  condensed  on  the  sides  of  the  fissure  in  crystallized  forms.  The 
parallel  arrangement  of  the  different  materials  on  tjae  sides  of  the  vein 
may  also  be  explained  by  this  hypothesis.  The  artificial  production  of 
various  crystals — such  as  feldspar,  hornblende,  mica,  and  magnetic  oxide 
of  iron,  found  in  the  slags  of  furnaces,  and  of  garnets,  rubies,  idocrase, 
and  olivine,  formed  in  the  laboratory  of  the  chemist — have  also  been  relied 
on  as  affording  direct  evidence  of  sublimation. 

'I'he  minerals  thus  artificially  produced,  however,  belong  to  a  difierent 
class  from  those  which  accompany  the  native  copper. 

This  hypothesis  does  not  explain  the  changes  which  are  exhibited  by 
veins  traversing  difierent  rocks,  nor  the  substitution  of  dlflieront  metals  in 
the  same  vein,  chemically  distinct. 

The  fact  that  copper,  silver,  and  lead  have  been  found  deposited  on  tim- 
ber and  leaves  in  some  of  the  long  abandoned  mines  of  Europe  proves 
that  heat  is  not  the  only  solvent  power  by  which  these  metals  may  be 
made  to  assume  new  forms. 

3.  Electrochemical  agency — There  is  but  little  doubt  that  magnetic 
currents  are  in  a  continual  state  of  slow  but  regular  change,  sweeping 
round  the  two  hemispheres.  Ampere  was  the  first  to  announce  that  these 
currents  traversed  the  earth  from  east  to  west;  and  others  have  applied 
them  in  explanation  of  the  chemical  changes  which  have  taken  place  in 
lodes  during  the  process  of  thellr  formation. 

The  observations  of  Mr.  Robert  Were  Fox,  in  the  Philosophical  Trans- 
actions and  the  Proceedings  of  the  Geological  Society  of  Cornwall,  upon 
the  electro-magnetic  properties  of  veins,  and  of  Becquerel  in  his  '''Iraite 
de  I'Electricite,"  upon  the  artificial  production  of  crystallized  insoluble 
compounds  of  copper,  lead,  and  lime,  throw  light  upon  one  of  the  ob- 
scurest pages  in  the  history  of  the  earth;  yet  it  must  be  confessed  that 
these  experiments  have  not  revealed  all  that  was  anticipated  at  the  time 
of  their  promulgation.  M.  Becquerel  shows  that,  by  the  long  continued 
action  of  weak  electrical  currents,  many  crystallized  subtances  hitherto 
found  only  in  nature  may  be  artificially  obtained. 

Mr.  Fox,  by  piacing  copper  wires  against  two  portions  of  a  lode,  or  of 
two  lodes  divided  by  a  cross-course,  and  connecting  the  wires  with  a  gal- 


176 


Doc.  No.  69. 


vanometer,  was  enabled  to  detect  a  current  of  electricity.  The  needle 
was  observed  lo  deviate  in  some  cases  to  such  an  extent  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  note  the  deflection.  In  nearly  all  of  the  mineral  veins  of 
Cornwall  he  was  enabled  to  detect  these  currents,  but  in  Teesdale  the 
results  of  his  experiments  were  negative.  He  was  successful  in  procu- 
ring an  electrotype  copy  of  an  engraved  platft,  by  a  current  collected  from 
two  lodes  of  iron  and  of  copper  pyrites,  and  also  in  inducing  magnetism 
in  a  bar  of  soft  iron. 

Prolessor  Reich  detected  very  decided  currents  in  the  lead  and  silver 
veins  near  Freyburg;  but  Von  Strombeck  on  the  other  hand,  could  obtain 
no  results  in  the  copper  and  lead  lodes  of  the  Rfiine. 

Mr.  Robert  Hunt  made  also  numerous  experiments  in  the  mines  of 
Cornwall,  and  almost  invariably  obtained  indications  of  electricity — in 
one  case  so  powerful  that  electro-chemical  decomposition  was  produced. 
He  also  examined  these  currents  in  reference  to  their  connexion  with  \r\e 
general  currents  which  traverse  the  earth,  according  to  the  theory  of 
Ampere,  and  was  induced  to  coiiclude  that  they  were  local,  and  flue  to 
the  chemical  action  going  on  in  the  lode  itself.  They  were  often  found 
to  traverse  the  lode  contrary  to  the  general  currents  which  sweep  round 
the  earth,  and  often_.at  right  angles  to  them. 

He  interred  that  these  local  currents  had  had  a  powerful  eifect  upon  the 
masses  of  matter  exposed  to  their  influence,  although  the  formation  of  veins 
might  not  originally  have  been  due  to  their  agency. 

The  amount  of  muriate  of  soda  (common  salt)  which  he  hn.d  found 
in  the  waters  of  many  of  the  deep  mines  of  Cornwall,  equalling  ii;  some 
cases  nine  nundred  and  fifty  grains  in  a  cubic  foot,  had,  in  his  opinion, 
acted  powerfully  in  inducing  chemical  changes  in  the  lode,* 

The  existence  of  two  metals  side  by  side,  like  copper  and  silv<M^  each 
chemically  pure,  and  capable  of  being  alloyed  in  any  proporti.Mi.- :  the 
accumulation  of  the  latter  near  the  cross-courses,  or  at  the  junction  ■("  two 
mineral  planes;  the  changes  in  the  metallic  contents  of  lodes  in  their  pas- 
sage through  different  rocks;  and  the  parallel  arrangement  of  the  earthy 
g^Miiues, — all  seem  to  indicate  the  existence  of  electrical  cuirents  during  the 
period  of  their  formation. 

it  is  to  magnetism — an  agency  subtle,  but  universal  and  all-poweriul, 
pervadinp:  every  particle  of  matter,  and  operating  unceasingly — that  we  are 
to  look  for  an  interpretation  of  many  of  the  obscurest  passages  in  the 
L'istory  of  the  earth. 

To  use  the  beautiful  figure  of  Humboldt:  "That  which  forms  the  in- 
visible but  living  weapon  of  the  electric  Jel;  that  Vv'hich,  awakened  by 
the  contact  of  ;.Loist  dissimilar  particles,  circulates  through  all  the  organs 
of  plants  and  animals;  that  which,  flashing  from  the  thunder-cloud,  il- 
himines  the  broad  canopy  of  the  sky;  that  which  draws  iron  to  iron,  and 
directs  the  silently-recurring  march  of  the  guiding  needle, — all,  like  the 
several  hues  of  the  divided  ray  of  light,  flow  from  one  source,  and  all 
blend  again  together  in  one  perpetual,  everywhere-diffused  force."! 

*  Lecture  on  the  electricity  of  mineral  veins,  Wore  the  Royal  Inatituii  n,  London.    , 
t  Aspects  of  Nature,  vpU  1,  art.  1. 


"■'"***1v^i 


Doc.  No.  69. 


1T7 


leedle 
as  im- 
ins  of 
le  the 
pvoou- 
d  from 
ueiism 

1  silver 
obtaia 

lines  of 
;ity— in 
iduced. 
^'it.h  me 
leo^ry  of 
i  due  to 
1  fonnd 
)  round 


upon  the 
I  of  veins 

ad  fouud 

;  ill  some 

opinion, 

vi'i;^  each 
iUir:  the 
n  li"  two 
heir  pas- 
0  earthy 
uring  the 

powenul, 
[oX  we  are 
33  in  the 

tis  the  in- 

vcned  by 

lie  organs 

Icloud,  il- 

Jiron,  and 

[,  like  the 

i,  and  all 

•^ 

Indon.     , 


CHAPTER  Vir. 


METALLURGY 


Purity  of  LaJct  Superior  native  copper  compared  xoith  refined  copper  from 
various  smelting-wor/cs. — Specific  gravit'j. — Occurrence  of  silver  in  con- 
nexion  loit/i  it.— M<-t/i«d  of  separation. — lAquition. — 4mqlgam^io_tt. — 
Mcdwnical  separation. 

The  term  metallursfyis  applied  to  the  art  of  extracting  the  various  use- 
ful metals  from  their  ores,  so  as  to  furnish  them  to  the  manufacturer  and 
-consumer  in  such  a  state  of  purity  as  may  be  required  in  the  various  uses 
to  which  they  are  applied  in  the  arts. 

The  processes  by  which  copper  is  reduced  from  its  combination  with  iron 
and  sulphur  in  the  ore,  from  which  the  greater  portion  of  that  metal  is  ex- 
tracted, are  long  and  tedious;  nor  is  the  skill  of  the  smelter  sufficient  to 
separate  the  copper  in  a  perfect  state  of  purity  and  freedom  from  other 
metals  which  impair  its  value.  On  the  contrary,  the  copper  of  commerce 
contains  considerable  quantities  of  iron,  lead,. nickel,  and  other  metals,  a« 
is  shown  by  the  following  analyses  of  refined  copper  from  various  dis- 
tricts: 

I. 

Coj^r      ...            -  98.655 

Iron           ....  .055 

Nickel       .            -            -            .  - 

Lead          ....  .751 

Silver         ....  .225 

Potassium  -            -            -            -  .116 

Calcium     ....  .095 1 

Magnesium            ...  .0335" 

Aluminium            ...  ,021 

Silioium    ...            -  04S 


100.00 


11. 

III. 

98.25  L 

.131 

0.17 

.236 

1.092 

.135 

- 

0.33 

.107 

0.33 

.048 

100.00 

_ 

No.  I  is  Swedish  copper. 

No.  II  is  Mansfeld  copper^  analyzed  by  V.  Kobell. 

No.  Ill  is  Swiss  copper,  analyzed  by  Berthier. 

Native  copper  from  Brazil,  having.;  a  specific  gravity  of  8.962,  contained 
iron,  0.17; calcium,  0.38;  magnesiuiri,  0.33. 

Japanese  copper  is  said  to  be  perfectly  pure;  also  the  native  copper  from 
the  Siberian  mines,  according  to  G.  Ros6. 

The  native  copper  from  the  Lake  Superior  mines  mav  be  considered  to 
be  chemically  pure.  It  dissolves  in  pure  nitric  acid  without  leaving  a 
trace  of  residuum;  it  gives  no  precipitate  when  the  nitric  acid  solution  is 
heated  widi  ammonia;  neither  on  the  addition  of  chloro-hydric  acid.  It 
dissolves  to  a  clear  solutioii  in  concentrated  sulphuric  acid  when  hoaied; 
it  contains  no  trace  of  arsenic  or  other  volatile  metal.  Tiiis  i.<  the  result 
ot  the  examination  of  several  specimens  of  copper  from  the  Pha3iiix,  Clirt, 
and  Minnesota  mines .  A  piece  of  copper  from  tiio  last-named  mine,  sawn 
13 


Iff  It'll 

i  "i    't  'S 


178 


Doc.  No.  69. 


with  care  fVora  a  perfectly  pure  and  solid  mass,  was  found  to  havejhe 
specific  gravity  of  8.838.  The  density  of  pure  copper  is  given  by  dif- 
ferent authors  as  follows: 

Peligot  and  Fremy,  pure  fused  copper      -  -  -  -     8.78 

Berzelius,  u         <t  .         .    .  ^.  .     8.83 

Scheerer  andMarchand,"         "  ....     8.921 

Scheerer  and  Marchand,  copper  in  fine  wire  ...    8.952 

It  has  been  asserted  that  some  of  the  native  copper  contains  a  small 
portion  of  silver  alloyed  with  it.  This  may  be  the  case;  but  we  have  not 
found  any  silver  in  the  specimens  which  we  have  examined,  when  ijo 
particles  of  that  metal  were  visible  in  the  m   .j. 

'^Phe  method  of  occurrence  of  the  native  silver  in  connexion  with  the 
copper  in  the  Lake  Superior  region  is  one  of  the  "most  novel  and  striking 
features  in  the  distribution  of  the  metallic  riches  of  that  district.  Native 
silver  occurs  by  no  means  unfrequently,  at  various  points  of  the  trap 
range,  from  one  extremity  of  the  district  to  the  other.  It  has,  however, 
been  found  in  the  greatest  quantity  at  the  Phoenix,  ClifT,  Copper  Falls, 
and  Minnesota  mines;  the  largest  specimen  hitherto  obtained  was  taken 
from  the  workings  of  the  Phoenix  (formerly  Lake  Superior)  Company's 
mine.  It  was  a  rolled,  detached  lump,  perfectly  pure,  which  weighed 
over  six  pounds,  and  ^'«  now  in  the  collection  of  the  mint  at  l^hiladelphia. 
This  mass  was  found  in  a  large  excavation  or  pothole  worn  by  the  ac- 
tion of  the  stream  in  passing  over  the  course  of  the  vein,  and  filled 
with  the  debris  of  the  vein  and  the  adjoining  rocks,  and  numerous  masses 
of  copper  and  silver  derived  from  the  ruins  of  the  veinstone.  Several 
thousand  dollars'  worth  of  the  latter  metal  were  taken  from  this  hole.  In 
the  various  excavations  on  this  location,  numerous  specimens  of  silver 
associated  with  copper  have  been  obtained,  both  ia  the  vein,  where  they 
generally  occur  associated  with  prehnite,  and  in  the  adjacent  rock,  either 
in  bunches  and  strings,  or  sometimes  in  almost  invisible  particles. 

A  specimen  of  native  silver  from  the  Minnesota  mine  was  found  to 
contain  no  other  foreign  substance  tha  a  trace  of  copper.  \  specimen 
from  the  old  Lake  Superior  Company's  mine  contained  no  copper,  but  a 
small  quantity  of  iron. 

The  silver  and  copper  do  not,  however,  in  general,  occur  alloyed  Avith 
each  other,  as  would  naturally  be  supposed  on  the  theory  that  they  have 
been  forced  up  together  in  a  state  of  fusion  from  the  heated  interior  ot 
the  earth.  The  silver  is  scattered  through  the  metallic  copper  in  such  a 
manner  that  each  metal  remains  entirely  free  from  alloy  with  the  other, 
although  the  junction  of  the  two  at  their  edges  is  a  perfect  one.  The  sil- 
ver is  often  interspersed  in  the  mass  of  copper,  so  as  to  form  a  species  of 
porphyiy,  the  former  metal  occuring  in  small  patches  and  particles  per- 
fectly soldered  to  the  enclosing  mass  of  cop^)er,  yet,  chemically  speak- 
ing, entirely  distinct  from  it.  The  native  silver  seems  to  occur  especially 
in  connexion  with  a  soft  greenish  magnesian  mineral,  also  with  calc- 
spar  and  prehnite,  and  has  never,  so  far  as  we  know,  been  found  distinctly 
crystallized,  as  the  copper  often  is. 

The  only  question  of  any  practical  difficulty  in  regard  to  the  metallurgic 
treatment  of  the  Lake  Superior  copper  is  that  of  the  occurrence  of  the 
native  silver  in  connexion  with  the  copper. 

fl 


If  there  should  be  a  large  amoujjt  of  silver  fouiid  finely  interdiij 


Doc.  lio.  69. 


179 


the 
'dif. 

1.78 
i.83 
5.921 
5.952 

small 
e  not 
?n  ijo 

til  the 

riking 

Native 

le  trap 

wever, 

;  Falls, 

i  taken 

ipany's 

weighed 

lelphia. 

tho  ac- 
id filled 
5  masses 

Several 

;ile.     In 

f  silver 

ere  they 

either 

[ound  to 
Ipecimeu 
iT,  but  a 

i^ed  with 
ley  have 
iterior  ot 
11  such  a 
le  other, 
The  sil- 
pecies  of 
cles  per- 
y  speak- 
specially 
ith  '•alc- 
istinclly 

-tallurgic 
iQ  of  the 


r\ 


"wilh  the  copper,  so  that  it  could  not  be  mechanically  separated ,  it 
xnronld  be  important  to  decide  how  the  two  metals  could  be  separated  in  tho 
most  economical  manner,  and  how  small  a  percentage  of  silver  could  be 
economically  worked.  If  the  percontase  of  silver  in  the  copper  is  largi^, 
a  separation  of  the  two  metals  can  be  effectw'  by  the  use  of  acids  in  the 
humid  way.  The  so-called  "aqua  regia"  was  many  years  sinco  iiscd 
by  Keir,  in  England,  fJir  separating  metallic  silver  from  copper.  It  con- 
«istsof  a  mixture  of  concentrated  sulphuric  and  nitric  acids,  or  oil  of  vitriol, 
mixed  with  one-tenth  its  weight  of  saltpetre.  Hy  this  reagent  the  silver  is 
dissolved,  and  the  copper  only  very  slightly  acted  on. 

In  the  separation  of  silver  from  copper,  when  both  the  ores  of  these 
metals  occur  in  combination,  in  the  Harz,  the  method  called  Hquatimi  is 
resorted  to.  I  rt  this  operation  the  argentiferous  copper,  which  may  contxiin  as 
low  as  0.0016  per  cent,  of  silver,  is  fused,  in  the  state  of  black  copper,  with 
between  two  and  three  times  its  weight  of  lead  and  litharge,  and  cast  into 
largo  flat  disks,  which  arc  then  ready  for  the  liquation  furnace.  In  tho 
treatment  by  this  furnace  the  lead  containing  the  silver  flows  off  info  tl.e 
well  in  front  of  the  hearth,  whence  it  is  taken  with  ladles  and  cast  into 
ingots.     The  silver  is  then  separated  from  the  lead  by  cupellation. 

AtTsiklova,  in  the  Bannat,  the  silver  contained  in  the  black  copper  is 
separated  by  amalgamation.  The  ores  are  principally  argentiferous  mispi- 
ckel  mixed  with  copper  pyrites.  The  black  copper  obtained  by  three 
separate  processes  of  fusion,  contains  from  80  to  90  per  cent,  of  copper, 
with  from  0.0012.5  to  0.00375  per  cent,  of  silver. 

This  is  heated  to  the  highest  point  possible  without  its  fusing,  and 
then  pulverized  by  stamps.  The  pulverized  s:ibstance  is  then  mixed 
with  10  per  cent,  of  common  salt  and  a  little  sulphuretof  iron,and  heatcti 
in  the  reverberatory  furnace.  The  resulting  chloride  of  silver  is  then 
amalgamated  with  mercury,  by  means  of  a  suitable  apparatus — thereduc- 
tionof  the  silver  being  effected  by  copper,  which  at  the  same  time  converts 
the  small  portion  of  chloride  of  copper  which  had  been  formed  in  tho  pro- 
cess of  chloruration  into  bichloride  of  copper.  The  amalgam  is  tli'm  dis- 
tilled, so  that  no  mercury  is  lost  in  the  operation;  and  the  copper  is  fused 
and  refined. 

Up  to  the  present  time,  the  quantity  of  silver  occurring  with  the 
copper  in  the  Lake  Superior  region  has  not  been  suflicient  to  render  it 
worth  while  to  erect  the  furnaces  and  make  the  required  outlay  for  sepa- 
rating these  two  metals;  but,  should  the  number  of  mines  bo  much  in- 
creased, and  the  quantity  of  silver  obtained  be  considerable,  it  will  be  ex- 
pedient to  make  suitable  preparation  for  separating  this  metal.  At  present, 
at  the  Cliff  mine,  the  particles  of  silver  which  are  so  flattened  by  the 
stamps  as  to  be  easily  seen,  are  separated  by  hand,  tho  coc'-rso  metal  from 
the  stainps  being  picked  over  with  care  for  that  purpose.  The  silver  oc- 
curring only  occasionally,  and  then  often  in  masses  of  considerable  size, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  a  very  considerable  amount  is  purloined  by 
the  miners,  who  seem  to  consider  the  silver  found  in  the  vein  as  their 
property. 

The  small  quantity  of  silver  which  may  remain  with  the  copper  be- 
comes, in  the  opei  'ion  of  smelting,  alloyed  with  it,  and  undoubtedly 
improves  the  quality  of  the  metal. 

Taking  into  view  Vv  hat  lias  already  been  said  in  the  preceding  chnptcf-: 
on  the  occurrence  of  tlrc  copper  in  the  mines  of  Lake  Superior,  it  is  .evi- 


1  SIW: 


r.  1 


ISO 


Boc.  Vo.  69. 


dent  that  the  practical  questions  in vt)lved  in  the  working  of  this  rt'gion  are 
exceedingly  simple,  und  that  few  mining  districts  occur  where  mines 
can  be  opened  with  such  facility,  and  their  products  convened  into 
money  with  so  little  outlay  of  capital  or  skill  in  their  metallurgic  treat- 
ment. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  copper  produced  in  the  world  is  obtained 
from  the  combinations  of  that  metal  with  sulphur,  and  principally  from 
the  ore  commonly  called  copper  pyrites,  or  sulphuret  of  copper  and  iron. 
In  addition  to  the  mechanical  preparation  of  such  ores,  they  reqivire  a  long 
and  complicated  process  to  free  the  copper  from  the  accompany  jj>g  foreign 
substances,  the  theory  of  which  may  be  thus  briefly  summed  up: 

1.  Mht  roasting  or  caicination. — This  process  is  performed  either  in 
peculiar  furnaces  or  in  roasting  pitsor  heaps.  By  it  the  greater  portion  of 
the  sulphur  is  oxidized;  the  metals  are  converted  into  Ijasic  sulphates, 
which  remain  mixed  with  the  portions  of  the  ore  which  have  escaped  oxi- 
dation. 

2.  FHrst  fusion  or  meiiinff  for  coarse  metal. — Silicious  substances  are 
added,  if  necessary,  in  sufficient  quantity  to  take  up  the  iron,  which 
combines  it  together,  to  form  silica  of  the  protoxide  of  iron,  making  a 
fusible  slag;  the  sulpliuric  acid  is  reduced  to  sulpSu«i,  and  the  oxide  of 
copper  to  cop|)er,  and  sulphuret  of  copper  is  formed.  The  heavy  combi- 
nation of  fulphur  and  copper  sinks  to  the  bottom  of  the  furnace,  while 
the  light  slag  floats  on  the  surface.  This  sulphuret  of  copper  still  con- 
tains considerable  sulphuret  of  iron. 

?>.  Second  roasting  or  calcinatio7i  of  coarse  metal . — The  mass  obtained 
by  the  last  process  is  now  broken  up,  and  again  roasted  for  several  weeks 
in  peculiar  furnaces.  The  object  of  this  operation  is  to  oxidize  thea>pp€r. 

4.  Second  fusion. — The  ore  is  again  fused,  with  the  addition  of  sili- 
cious substances,  if  necessary — the  object  of  which  treatment  is  to  take  up 
the  portion  of  iron  which  still  remains.  The  copper  obtained  by  this 
process  still  contains  many  impurities:  it  is  called  black  metal. 

5.  Refining. — The  copper  is  fused  slnd  subjected  to  a  process  by  which 
the  foreign  metais  present  in  it  are  oxidized,  and  form  a  crust  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  fused  mass,  which  is  constantly  skimmed  off".  The  copper  is 
treated  in  this  way  till  it  acquires  the  properties  of  the  pure  metal,  when  tlie 
operation  is  suspended.  It  is  then  cast  in  ingots,  or  cooled  upon  the  sur- 
face by  throwing  on  water,  and  removed  in  successive  flat  masses,  called 
rosettes. 

This  is  the  general  description  of  the  processes  by  which  the  ores  are 
treated,  though  the  details  vary  much  in  dilFerent  countries  and  under 
ditfcrent  circumstances.  The  number  of  distinct  processes  which  the 
ore  undergoes  in  the  great  smelting  establishments  of  Swansea  is  at  least 
ten,  which  are  entirely  distinct  from  each  other. 

The  sulphurets  of  copper  there  require  a  long  and  expensive  process  for 
smelting — a  process  w'aich  demands  the  highest  metallurgic  skill,  and  a 
large  amount  of  capital.  Eight  companies  have  the  control  of  the  great 
Welsh  furnaces,  where  so  large  a  portion  of  the  copper  used  throughout 
the  world  is  smelted. 

The  question  arises  then,  Are  the  sulphurets  of  copper  destined  to  form 
an  important  part  of  the  production  of  the  I^ake  Su|)erior  mines? 

The  occurrence  of  the  sulphurets  of  copper  in  the  Lake  Superior  regiors 
is  by  no  means  a  very  uncommon  iiict.    Two  localities  have 


luaiisiied 


n  are     • 

111)69 

into 
treat- 

ained 

from 

iron. 
L  long 
oreign 

her  in 
tion  of 
ihates, 
3(1  oxi- 

C€8  are 

which 
king  a 
.xide  of 

covubi- 
!,  while 
till  con- 

ibtained 
weeks 

1  of  sili- 
take  up 
by  this 

>y  which 
the  sur- 
sopper  is 

khen  tlie 
the  sur- 
s,  called 

ores  are 
id  under 
Ihich  the 
is  at  lt5ast 

rocess  for 
[ill,  and  a 
Ithe  great 
jioughout 

j(l  to  form 

I? 

lor  region 

Ifuiuisi**^^ 


Dbc.  No..69J 


181) 


ground  for  mining  o])oration$ — one  of  which  has  been  entirely  abandoned  i 
th«  other  is  tein{H)rarily  anspunded,  thongh  it  is  believed  thut  the  naite  i>i 
not  considered  by  the  pmpriotors  as  entirely  proved.  The  ore  in  eaoli  of 
these  cases  is  mostly  the  l)lack  sulphuret.  The  yellow  ore  is  found  iu 
comparatively  small  quantity,  tissociated  wilh  the  variegtited.  We  do 
tu)t  believe  that  appearanceN  tlius  Uvr  indicatu  thut  any  ore  of  copper  uxInlh 
in  the  Lake  Saperior  region  in  sutiiciunt  quantity  to  be  worthy  of  buing 
worked.  We  have,  therefore,  a  conqMiratiVoly  .simple  task  to  diw^iAs  ilu» 
metallurgy  proper  of  this  district,  since  nature  fnruislioH  us  with  tb«  pure 
metal,  associated  with  easilyrfuaed  veinstones,  fn)n»  which  il  can  bo  ise|>- 
arated  by  the  simplest  of  ptxtctisses — fusion. 

The  native  copper  is  considered,  by  the  miners  as  coming,  under  t'ln/e 
distinct  heads,  according,  to  its  laate  of  nulidivision  iu  tlu)  ruck,  and  the 
fiize  of  the  pieces  of  the  metal.     Thoy  are  as  follows: 

Isti.  Mass.  * 

2d.  Ha  neb  work. 

3di.  Stamp- work. 

1.  Mass. — In  stcipeiiig^  when  a  large  sheet  of  copper  occurs  in  the 
vein,  the  rock  is  removed  from  one  sido  of  it,  and  it  is  thrown  down  by 
means  of  a  sand-blast,  and  tlius  lies  or  stands  upon  the  bottotn  of  tlie  lovr.l 
or  drift.  Masses  have  boeu  (leta(lic4  from  the  vein  wbicb  were  osti- 
niated  to  weigh  ()()  or,  70  tons,  mostly  of  solid  co[»p«'r,  in  an  irregulnr,  llat- 
tened,  tabular  shape,  now  expanding  to  a  width  of  iVom  2  to  H  fut;t,  and 
then  contracting  to  a  lew  incbca,  but  firmly  unitcJ.  (^f  course,  such  a 
mass  is  too  large  to  Iw  moved  in  tlie  level  or  raisod  to  the  surface,  and 
it  is  of  importanco  tli.'it  as  litile  of  th(!  process  of  snl)divi,'^it)n  ay  pos- 
sible should  be  done  under  ground,  since  the  operation,  which  must 
necessarily  last  a  long  time,  impedes  tlie  work  in  the  mine,  and  is  Icfis 
conveniently  executed  in  a  narrow,  confined  space,  whore  easy  iic('<!.ss 
cannot  be  had  to  the  mass  on  all  sides,  and  where  it  ciuuiot  be  readily 
moved.  The  use  of  iwwerful  machinery  and  tackle  ibr  elovatiug 
masses  of  several  tons'  weight  will  be  gradually  introduced,  when  their 
occurrence  may  ho  reckoned  upon  as  forming  a  fonsiderablo  |)art  of  the 
value  of  the  miaie.  The  process  of  dividing  the  masses,  at  present, 
is  as  follows,  and  is  the  same  wbetlier  above  and  below  the  suiluce: 
A  groove  or  channel  is  cut  diagonally,  at  a  convenient  point,  where 
thg  co[>|)er  is  as  piini  as  jKissihle,  and  the 
small,  which  is  carri(fd  through  the  mass  till 


parts.     To   olfect    this,  one    person    holds    a 


thickness  conqjaratively 
it  is  separated  into  two 
chistfl,    the  cutting  edge 


of  whicli  is  about  three- fourths  of  an  incji  in  wi<Uh,  and  of  varying 
length,  according  to  the  thickness  ol  the  mass  to  b(5  divided;  another  pci- 
8011  strikes  with  a  heavy  sledge,  pud  at  each  blow  the  chisel  is  snidc  into 
the  groove  and  moved  laterally  so  as  to  prevent  its  becoming  wedged, 
until  at  last  a  chip  of  copper  is  taken  out  ssiveral  inches  in  length.  A. 
rejieiition  of  this  process  at  length  completely  severs  (be  metallic  mass. 
Cf  the  copjicr  be  |)erf(!Ctly  pure,  the  o{)eration  proceeds  rapidly  and 
regularly;  but  when  quarizose  maUer  is  to  he  traversed  by  the  chisel, 
the  labor  is  more  tedious,  and  recjuires  greater  care.  Tfie  cost  of  thin 
operfUion  is  from  ijiitt  to  ijf,7  f)er  si'juart!  foot  of  surface  cut  through.  No 
other  i>roce.ss  than  this,  tcdirtus  and  expensive  as  it  may  seem  tf»  be, 
has  yet  been  resorted  to  for  dividing  the  iimK.se.s=  If  the  blocks  were  of 
lium  copper,  and  not  liable  to  contain  baiuLs  and  nodules  of  silicious  mat- 


182. 


Doc.  No.  69. 


.1 


ter,  it  is  pTobabte  that  a  machine  might  be  contrived  f<>r  performing  the 
operation  by  a  kind  of  saw,  driven  by  steam-power,  somewhat  similar  to 
that  used  in  dividing  railroad  bars,  leaking  into  consideration,  however, 
the  difficulty  just  Rjentioned,  it  seems  doubtful  whether  any  more  eco- 
nomical or  efficacious  means  can  be  contrived  than  that  which  is  already 
in  Hse.  It  has  been  suggested  that  fusion  of  the  masses  might  be  effected, 
so  as  to  divide  them  in  that  manner;  but  the  fact  that  copper  is  so 
good  a  conductor  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  confine  the  effect  of  the 
heat  to  a  limited  space  and  obtain  a  temperatjire  high  enough  to  produce 
fusion  at  a  particular  point  seems  to  render  any  such  method  inapplicable. 

The  greatest  thickness  of  a  solid  mass  of  copper,  without  seam  or  breaks 
observed  by  us,  was  two  feel  four  inches.  This  was  at  the  Cliff  mine. 
At  the  Minnesota,  there  appeared  to  be  a  solid  mass  in  the  vein,  at  least 
five  feet  in  thickness. 

When  the  masses  have  been  brought  to  the  surface,  they  are  still  further 
subdivided,  if  necessary,  into  blocks  varying  from  one  to  two  tons  in 
weight — such  as  may  be  conveniently  transported  to  the  lake,  whence  they 
are  shipped  to  market.  The  Boston  and  Pittsburg  (Cliff)  Company  have 
erected  a  furnace  at  Pittsburg  for  fusing  these  masses — the  details  of  which ,^ 
however,  the  trustees  do  not  allow  to  be  made  public.  There  is  no  prac- 
tical difficulty  whatever  in  the  way  of  obtaining  the  copper  at  once  perfectly 
pure.  The  veinstone  consists  generally  of  fusible  minerals,  such  as 
prehnite  and  the  zeolitic  minerals,  or  of  quartz  and  calcareous  spar,  which 
flow  readily  together.  In  the  report  of  the  trustees  of  the  Pittsburg  Com- 
pany the  per  centage  of  the  mass  is  estimated  at  60  of  pure  copper  in  100. 

2.  Bairelwork. — This  is  the  name  given  at  the  Lake  Supeiior  mines 
to  the  smaller  masses  of  crtpper,  which  are  loo  large  to  go  under  the  stainpsy 
and  too  small  to  be  shipped  separately.  It  includes  masses  of  cop- 
per in  bunches  and  string-like  forms,  which  are  firmly  bound  together 
Avith  a  greater  or  less  amount  of  the  veinstone,  and  weighing  from  a  few 
pounds  up  to  several  hundred.  These  smaller  masses  are  picked  out 
from  the  matter  raised  to  the  surface,  and  dressed  by  the  hanmier,  so  as  to 
free  them,  as  much  as  possible,  from  tlie  adhering  rock  or  veinstone-. 

They  are  then  barrelled  up  in  stout  casks,  which  hold  from  five  to  eight 
hundred  pounds  of  metal  and  rock.  These  are  smelted  by  the  Pittsburg 
Company,  with  the  larger  masses.  The  barrel-work  at  the  Clitf  mine 
is  estimated  at  50  per  cent  of  pure  copper. 

The  proportion  of  barrel-work  to  stamp-work  furnished  by  the  Ckff 
mine  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  table  appended  to  the  account  of 
tliatmine,  under  the  head  of  '<  Mines  and  Mining." 

3.  Stamp-work. — Tliis  includes  all  the  veinstone  with  metallic  cofh 
per  in  sufficient  quantity  to  allow  of  itp  being  separated  by  the  process 
of  washing  after  the  stumping.  The  limit  of  the  quantity  of  copper  con- 
tiiined  in  the  rook  which  may  be  profitably  stamped  and  wasiied,  we 
cannot  yet  fix  with  certainty  This  depends  on  a  variety  of  circum- 
stances: as,  for  instance,  the  price  of  labor,  the  economical  arrangement 
of  the  works  above  ground,  and,  especially,  the  construction  of  (he  wasFi- 
ing  apparatus.  The  great  difi'erence  in  the  specific  gravity  of  the  vein- 
stone and  the  metallic  copf)er — the  former  being  ironi  2.7  to  3.5,  the  latter 
nearly  9 — renders  a  perlbct  separation  of  the  two  very  easy,  and  requires 
a  much  less  complicated  and  scientific  arrangement  of  the   machinery 


Doc.  No.  69. 


183 


than  in  those  cases  where  the  ore  is  only  a  little  heavier  than  the  gangne. 
Of  course,  as  the  country  becomes  settled ,  and  the  price  of  labor  fails, 
and  greater  method  is  introduced  into  the  works,  a  rock  containing 
a  smaller  per  centage  of  copper  may  be  profitably  worked. 

Before  the  rock  is  stamped,  it  is  necessary  tiiat  it  should  be  roasted,  in 
order  that  the  veinstone,  especially  ihe  quartz,  may  be  rendered  friable, 
so  that  it  wil  idily  yield  to  Iho  blows  of  the  stuirips.  The  roasting  is 
effected  in  the  i,jjen  air.  The  rock  containing  the  copper  is  arranged  iu 
alternate  layers  with  billets  of  wood,  and  then  fired,  and  allowed  to 
smoulder  for  forty-eight  hours.  The  heat  should  not  be  carried  suffi- 
ciently far  to  cause  any  portion  of  the  copper  to  be  fused.  If  necessary, 
water  may  be  dashed  upon  the  heap  while  still  hot,  to  aid  in  destroying 
the  cohesion  between  the  particles  of  the  rock. 

The  price  of  fuel  is  so  low  that  this  method  will  undobtedly  be  em- 
ployed, although  a  more  economical  one  might  probably  be  devised. 


Fig.  Sfi. 


;) 


( 


a 


o 


C3  C^T 


-.fnn^iiy; 


til' 


After  having  been  calcined,  the  ores  are 
taken  to  the  stamping-mill.  This  con- 
sists of  several  pestles  of  wood  in  a  ver- 
tical position,  to  which  heads  of  iron, 
weighing  20U  pounds  or  more,  are  at- 
tached. A  cylindrical  axle  revolves  hori- 
zontally, and  is  armed  with  cams,  which, 
acting  successively,  catch  into  the  should- 
ers of  the  pestles  and  raise  them  to  the 
required  height,  when  they  are  disen- 
gaged and  fall  into  an  oblong  cast  iron 
trough,  which  is  fed  with  ore  from  a  hop- 
[)er  above.  Three  or  four  pestles  com- 
!^  pose  a  battery,  and  several  batteries  are 
■  usually  employed  in  a  stamping-mill. 
Figures  30  and  37  represent  the  arrange- 
r  jnt  and  form  of  the  stamps  used  at  the 
Oi  •  if  mine  —the  former  being  a  front  view 
single   battery  with   four  pestles, 


Oi 


v/hile  figure  37  is  a  section  showing  the 
manner  in  which  the  ore  and  water  a:e 
introduced. 

An  attempt  was  made  at  the  Cliff  mii.e 
to  stamp  the  ore  dry,  and  also  at  the  Lake 
Superior  Conijiuny's  works  to  pulverize  it 
by  a  pair  of  crushin'g- wheels;  but  it  is  satisfactorily  demonstrated  that 
the  Lake  Superior  ores  can  be  stamped  only  by  the  aid  of  water. 

After  stamping,  comes  the  much  more  diflicult  process  of  washing  the 
metal  from  pulverized  rock.  So  that  every  particle  may  be  separated  with- 
out loss.  As  the  present  methods  nf  washing  practised  on  the  lake  are 
very  miperfect,  we  add  an  account  of  the  most  approved  machinery  foj 
that  purpose  used  in  the  French  and  Cerman  mines. 


181 


D<K*.  No.  60, 


5'  li 


!      H 


of  washing  is  by  ngftAt '.g' 
th«  inetalnfpronji  sand  In 
a  bucket,  by  hand,  im- 
parting to  it  aMHiiioryinn. 
tton,  .<o  tllat  tho  HghWt^' 
p!»!  M  .'..is  of  earlliy  mutter 
may  b«  tbroVti  over  the 
top,  \Vhihi  ihohoavioi-otibs 
contnlning  tho  vahiiible 
inifital  or  ore  sjuk  us  the 
i>ottom  of  the  vessel, 
SVashinjj  can  be  very  fct- 
fffttly  p?!tfi»^riiOd  ill  this 
\  Way  with  sufficient  caW; 
/  an,l,  sinlnle  as  the  method 
i.s,  It  is  ono  which  is  ex- 
tensively used  in  the  wasli- 
iiij?  of  auriferous  sandd. 
Tlio  me  thing  can,  how- 
ever, bo  eiTected  nniolv 
more  economically  by  va- 
rious mechanical  conlri- 
yancos,  such  as  jwrcussion  and  sleeping  tables. 

The  water  us  it  issues  IVom  under  thti  wiumps  is  made  to  circulate 
tl'uuugh  ft  systetn  of  canals  called  u  labyrinth,  carrying  with  it  the  pul- 
verized oifo  which  is  distiibnted  at  j)oints  more  or  less  rcnioitt,  de- 
jwiiilent  otk  tlio  sho  and  si)ecirrc  gravity  of  the  panicles.  (See  figiire  38 
which  it'piV!-ev.ts  tho  most  approved  fohn  o(  this  apparatus.)  In  these 
Fig.  at^.  troughs  the  metallic  parti- 

cles are  dejiosited  incon- 
stantly decreasing  quan- 
tity from  the  end  neiu^st 
the  stamps  to  tho  place  of 
exit,  where  the  earthy  par- 
ticles ure  carried  out  de- 
prived of  all  the  ore  with 
which  they  had  been  pre- 
viously intermixed. 

The  san>e  thing  may  be 
etTecii'd  by  the  opeiatio»i 
calleil  riddling,  or  jig^iri  j 
— an  o|>eration  which  is 
performed  principsdly  on 
the  rubbish  produced  in 
breaking  tho  ores.  This 
may  be  done  by  hand  em- 
ploying a  kind  of  sieve 
or  riddle,  the  bottom  of 
which  is  covered  by  a  p!atc  of  metal  pierced  with  holes,  which  is  jerked 
up  ajul  down,  with  a  jKUtially  rotatory  movement,  in  a  cislevu  of  water. 


•I 


Doc.  No.  69, 


185' 


The  water  outers  iho  orifices  arid  holds  the  particles  of  ore  and  ganguo 
suNpetHled  for  a  niomont,  when  they  arrange  tluMiiafjIves  in  the  order  of 
th(!ir  specific  gruvitios,  and  are  thuH  deposited  in  the  sieve,  and  nfter- 
wards  8e|)arated,  the  up{x;r  iK)rtion-  being  removed  by  a  spatnia  and  re- 
Fiff.  31).  jected.     Figure  39  represents 

a  simple  and  effective  instni- 
irteut  now  UHud  in  tlio  Harz 
T  this  purpose.    The  sieves 
or    riddles   are    in    this    ma- 
chine fixed,  and  the  water  is 
made  to  ascend  and  descend 
rough  them  by  the  alternate 
vertical  motion  of  a  solid  pis- 
ton.   Hy  this  arrangement  tfie 
•cess  of  riddling  can  be  per- 
lornied  with,  great  ease  and 
jx^rfection. 

The  copper  can  be  perfectly 
sepanited  from  the  gungue  in. 
the    Lake    Superior  ores    by 

.. ...     .         washing  the  deposites  which, 

have  accumulated  in  the  labyrinth  by  means  of  what  are  called  sleeping-'- 
tables.    Figure  4U  represents  a  section  of  the  common  sleeping  luble. 

Fig  40. 


It  consists,  in  general,  of  an  inclined  board,  at  the  elevated  end  of  which, 
a  stream  of  water  is  made  to  run  upon  the  mixed  mass  of  pulverized 
metal  and  gangue.  The  water,  as  it  descends  the  inclined  surface,  car- 
ries wijh  it  the  particles,  which  tend  constantly  to  deposite  themselves  in 
the  order  of  their  syiecific  gravity,  the  heaviest  nearest  the  upper  end  of 
tlie  table.  A  workman,  with  a  kind  of  rake,  continually  pushes  the  de- 
scending materials  upwards,  till  the  metallic  portions  have  become  suffi- 
ciently sojxirated  from  the  particles  of  the  gangue.  The  former  are  thou 
removed  by  o|)ening  a  slide,  through  which  they  are  allowed  to  full  into 
a  suitable  receptacle  beneath.  The  sanie  processes  are  re|)eatcd  till  a. 
complete  separation  has  been  effected.  The  washed  metal  is  then  packed 
in  strong  casks  and  transported  to  the  fnrnace,  where  the  smelting  is  per- 
formed, and  the  copper  is  cast  into  suitable  shape  for  the  market. 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


166t 


Doe.  No.  69i 


'••'••■^rrt^j  f'ff!-, '>-;r>  *]o  :'«)ij;v')7nq  -^rlr  fffijiuf  hi\r.  p.-ytHivt  'i.'fj  -■'Ma'"  v>'mi  otVV 
■re    ,«r/«:;^.  Mfl''  u(-  f     OHAPTER   VTII.''"''  ■*'«'^*''J'y   "'i^i»vrj!i  'i-*:'* 


O'ljlf: 


•Sff  •=»«'>■•': /I 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

DRIFT  OF  THE  LAKE  SUPERIOR  LAND  DISTRICT. 


•■\:i'p^  Kin.  H 


Intrnduciory  rdnte^ksi— Drift  of  the  valley  of  thk  St.  Laurence. — Of  Lake 
Superior. — Divistion  of  the  drifts. — Peculiarities  of  tho.  coarse  drifts. — 
Names  given,  to  the  drift  clay. —  Thickness. — Composition. — Stratiji' 
cation. — Extent. — Origin. — Drift  sand  and  gravel. — Composition. — 
Thickness. — Exteni. — Stratifcaiion. —  Composition. — Origin. — Influ- 
ence of  the  waves. — Inference. — Boulders. —  Their  size  ana  distribution 
'and  mineral  composition. — Origin. —  Transportation. — Limitation.— 

Their  relation  to  the  drift. 

•  T!|  'Iff  >f;-'»  <iniiy'i<h  10  ■■:■■  ■     i  ,  '-j  '■'  -  —  --.j-* 

The  region  of  the  great  lakies  may  be  considered  as  the  headquarters 
of  the  North  American  drift.  From  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the 
borders  of  Lake  Superior  there  is  hardly  a  spot  where  the  drift  de- 
posiles  are  lost  sight  of.  They  generally  form  lew,  level  plains,  but  some- 
times rise  in  high  bluffs  and  terraces,  and  again  merely  cap  the  promon- 
tories of  the  bolder  cliffs. 

Throughout  this  long  line  of  inland  country  there  is,  however,  noplace 
where  these  formations  are  more  extensive  than  on  the  southern  shore  of 
I<ake  Superior — more  especially  its  southeastern  coast.  There,  they  not 
only  constitute  the  only  visible  formations  for  nearly  one  hundred  miles, 
but  they  also  attain  an  astonishing  thickness,  so  as  to  form,  by  themselves, 
ridges  and  cliffs  which  exceed  in  height  even  those  of  the  Pictured  Rocks — 
being  in  some  places  (for  example,  at  the  Grand  Sable)  not  less  than  three 
hundred  and  sixty  feet  high.  In  consequence  of  this  preponderance 
of  the  drift  deposite,  that  portion  of  the  shore  of  the  great  lake  is  the  least 
attractive  in  a  picturesque  point  of  view — it  being  in  the  nature  of  the  detri- 
tal  deposites  to  soflen  down  the  contrasts,  and  to  produce  uniformity  and 
monotony.  The  drift  is  less  conspicuous  along  the  western  portion  of 
the  lake  shore,  although  it  is  not  wanting  even  among  the  romantic  and 
precipitous  cliffs  or  the  Pictuted  Rocks  and  the  Red  Castles.  The  great- 
difference  which  exists  in  the  orographic  il  and  geological  structure  of  the 
eastern  and  western  portion  of  the  southern  shore  has  exercised  a  power- 
ful influence  upon  the  drift.  Since  the  peninsula  of  Keweenaw  Point, 
which  projects  so  boldly  into  the  lake,  divides  the  whole  country  into 
distinct  regions,  both  in  a  mineralogical  and  geological  point  of  view,  we 
may  as  well  consider  it  also  as  a  dividing-point  for  the  drifl — the  more  so, 
as  it  is  now,  and  long  will  be,  the  general  landing-place  for  all  those  who 
visit  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior.  We  shall  therefore  start  from  Kewee- 
naw Point,  to  examine  first  those  drift  deposites  which  extend  to  the  west 
of  it  aloijg  the  copper  region,  and  afterwards  those  which  line  the  coast 
as  far  as  the  Saut  and  the  Straits  of  Mackinac. 

Before  we  proceed  to  the  investigation  of  the  peculiariti-  s  and  distribution 
of  the  drift  masses  in  either  of  these  regions,  it  will  be  proper  to  give  a  brief 
account  df  the  different  divisions  which  we  have  recognised.  The  drift 
of  Lake  Superior  may  be  divided  into  four  different  deposites,  which,  in  an 
ascending  order,  exnibitthe  following  characteristics; 


-Of  Lake 
?  drifts. — 
—Stratifi' 
Position. — 
I. — hijlu- 
istribution 
itation.— 


idquaiters 
nee  to  the 
drift  de- 
but some- 
}  promon- 

,  no  place 
1  shore  of 
,  they  not 
ed  miles, 
emselves, 
Rocks — 
han  three 
mderance 
the  least 
the  detri- 
mity  and 
(ortion  of 
intic  and 
'he  great- 
ire  of  the 
a  power- 
iw  Point, 
ntry  into 
riew,  we 
more  so, 
lose  who 
Kewee- 
the  west 
he  coast 

tribution 
ve  a  brief 
'he  drift 
ch,  in  an 


Pof.  ife  m 


mi 


1st.  A  layer  of  coarse  materials,  composed  of  pebbles  intermingled  with 
loam,  which  we  will  designate  as  coarse  drift. 

2d .  A  layer  of  clay  resting  either  on  the  coarse  drift ,  or,  where  this  want-> 
ingt  on  the  rock.    This  is  the  drift  clay  of  Lake  Supeiior. 

3d.  Adepositeof  sand,  gravel,  and  pebbles,  irregularly  stratified,  resting 
upon  the  clay,  or  upon  the  rock  itself. 

4th.  A  Considerable  numbei  of  isolated  boulders,  scattered  over  the  whole 
region,  forming  the  uppermost  portion  of  the  drift  deposites.  The  polished 
and  grooved  surfaces  which  occur  in  connexion. with  the  drift,  constitute, 
likewise,  a  most  important  feature  in  its  history.  Finally,  there  are  thQ 
drift  terraces  and  ridges,  which  likewise  deserve  a  close  examination,  in 
order  to  ascertain  their  bearing  in  reference  to  the  chaiiges  of  level  whiph 
have  taken  place  during  and  since  the  drift  epoch.  .  ,  ,uu>o      i.  .,j  i  ..j  .j.i}a 

1 .  Coarse  diift. — This  deposite  is  the  least  conspicuous  of  all.  It  is 
found  only  in  a  few  places  along  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Superior, 
generally  capping  the  higH  towering  cliffs  of  sandstone,  (as,  for  example, 
at  the  Red  Castles,  west  of  the  Portage,  and  also  at  the  top  of  the  Pictured 
Rpcks.)  It  is  generally  a  mixture  of  loam  and  fragments  of  rock  of 
different  size — sometimes  worn,  but  more  generally  angular.  As  a  leading 
feature,  we  may  state  that  it  is  almost  exclusively  composed  of  fragments 
of  the  rocks  in  situ,  showing  that,  whatever  may  have  been  its  origin, 
it  could  not  have  been  acted  upon  by  long-continued  agencies.  After  ^a 
careful  examination,  I  found  but  iew  foreign  pebbles,  mostly  of  trap, 
scattered  through  the  mass,  and  evidently  derived  from  the  neighbor- 
hood. The  whole  mass  is  nowhere  more  than  thirty  feet  thick.  We 
ought  to  add  further,  that  in  many  places  the  pebbles  may  be  seen  disap- 
pearing gradually,  and  the  whole  passing  into  a  regular  drift  clay. 

This  aef)Osite  might,  perhaps,  seem  hardly  worth  mentioniug,  were  it 
not  that  its  peculiar  structure  and  its  position  remind  us  of  a  similar  de- 
posite widely  diffused  throughout  New  England,  especially  in  the  moun- 
tainous districts  of  Vermont,  where  it  forms  the  most  conspi(*.uous  feature 
of  the  drift. 

2.  Drift  clay,  or  red  clay. — This  deposite  has  been  long  ago  recognised 
as  a  peculiar  one,  distinct  from  the  drift-gravel  and  sand  above  it,  and  the 
coarse  drift  beneath  it.  It  has  been  described  by  the  geologists  of  the 
Michigan  State  survey  as  the  tertiary  clay  of  Lake  Superior.  From  its 
red  color,  which  is  one  of  its  leading  features,  if.  is  also  called  by  some 
red  clay.  It  is  difficult  to  determine  its  aver  ige  thickness,  iron;  the  fact 
that,  in  many  places  where  it  is  highly  developed,  it  sinks  below  the  waters 
of  the  lake,  and  in  other  cases,  where  its  base  is  visible,  its  top  has  been 
partly  washed  away.  There  are,  however,  some  places  (for  example,  at 
the  western  portion  of  the  Grand  Sable)  where  it  maybe  seen  undisturbed 
in  its  natural  position,  its  base  resting  on  the  nlmost  horizontal  strata 
of  red  sandstone,  a  few  feet  above  the  water,  whilst  its  top  is  covered  by 
a  considerable  mass  of  drift  sand.  I  found  the  deposite  in  this  place  to 
be  sixty  feet  in  thickness,  exhibiting  hnes  of  stratification  disposed 
with  much  regularity.  Its  upper  limit  may  be  here  seen  stretching  in  a 
horizontal  line  for  a  long  distance.  We  may  well  consider  this  locality 
as  indicating  the  average  tliickness  of  the  clay .  However  distinct  the  upper 
limit  of  the  clay  may  be  in  general,  it  is  also  seen  in  many  localities  al- 
ternating with  the  sand  above,  or  passing  gradually  into  it — thus  showing 
tliat  both  de^  osites,  although  of  different  materials,  belong,  nevertheless. 


m» 


m^.  ite  Q9fJ 


to  tfife  same  fonnatiott,  and  therefbre  thht  there  is  no  real  ground  to  coh- 
sider  the  clay  as  being  a  part  of  the  tertiary  formation  As  far  as  its 
composition  is  concerned,  it  appears  to  be  a  mixture^  of  loam  and  clay, 
and  its  color  is  owing  to  the  decomposition  of  the  red  sandstone  and  trap 
from  which  it  has  wen  derived.  Though  the  rriaia  mass  of  the  clay 
stratum  is  composed  of  very  finely  comminuted'  substances,  and  of-' 
teintimes  reduced  to  an  almost  irtipalpable  powder j  yet  there  are  many 
pebbles  interspersed  through  it,  and  even  bouMers'  of  considerable  size, 
generally  rounded  and  smoothed.  Fragments  of  metallic  ores  and  native 
copper  occur  oocasiomiUy  in  it-'— the  latter  sometimes  weighing  several' 
hundred  pounds.  It  was  by  means  of  the  fragments  of  copper  scat- 
tered through  the  clay  thaf  the  attention  of  the  early  travellers  was  first 
attracted  to  the  copper  mines  of  that  region',  which  are'  now  so  extensively 
wrought. 

As  a  whole,  the  great  ddy  stratum  of  Lake  Sti|«rior  cannot  be  con- 
sidered as  beingregulariy  stratified,  though  there  may  be  seen  in  mawy^ 
places  bands  of  di'Sferent  color,  and  differing  in  the  size  of  the  materials, 
resembling  in  their  regularity  a  kind  of  stratificationi  Neither  is  there- 
any  striking  variety  to  be  observed  between  the  materials^  either  at  the- 
base  or  at  the  top;  so  that  the  conditions  under  which  the  dfeposite  was* 
formed'mwst  have  been  uniform,  and  rather  quiet. 

As  to  its  exitent,  it  appears,  from  what  we  know,  to  be  spread  over  an 
immense  tract  of  country.  Not  only  is  it  found  along:  the  whole  southern 
coast'  of  Lake  SUprior  to  Pbnd  du  Lac,  and  along  the  St.  Louis  river  as 
fkr  as  geologists  hate  extended  their  investigations,  but  it  occurs  also  on' 
the  north  shore,  where  it  has  been  traced  for aconsiderab'le distance  along 
several  rivers  whieh  empty  into  the  lake.  It  was  ©bserved,  however,  by 
Mr.  Whittlesey,  that  to  the  northwest  of  Lak«  Superior  the  drift  assumes 
an  ash-colored  tinti  which  is  owing,  no  ^oubt,  to  the  absence  of  red  sand- 
stone in  these  regions; 

If  we  were'  to  consider  merely  the  position  of  this  clay  as  it  appears- 
on  the  southern  border  of  Lake  Superif  "ming,  as  it  does,  a  regular 
stratum,  resting  upon  the  red  sandstor.>^  ]'  being  limited  to  a  certain 
lieight,  where  it  is  followed  by  the  dritt  sand,  we  might  well  conclude 
that  it  was  deposited  in  a  circumscribed  basin.  This  is,  indeed,  the  im- 
pression which  a  traveller  might  receive  if  he  were  raerely  to  coast  around 
.the  lake.  Such  an  impression  would  be^  however,  entirely  erroneous; 
for,  in  ascending  the  highlands  which  rise  behind  those  cliffs,  we  meet 
again  with  the  same  clay  at  an  elevation  of  from  six  to  eight  hundred  feet — 
as,  for  instance,  near  the  Jackson  location  on  Carp  river,  and  in  several 
places  along  the  road  leading  to  it.  It  also  forms  lofty  cliflfe  on  the  river 
Ontonagon— as  high  as  fiVe  hundred  feet.  In  all  these  places  its  composi- 
tion' is  the  same  as  along  the  lake  shore,  being  quite  as  comminuted,  and 
forming  the  same  sticky  loam  when  Wet.  It  ought  to  be  observed,  how- 
ever, that,  on  the  whole,  it  seems  to  be  limited  merely  to  the  depressions 
of  the  soil,  and  never  to  cover  the  culminatiug  points. 

3.  Dri/t  sand  and  gravel. — This  is  the  most  widely  diffused  of  all  the 
drift  deposites  along  the  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  as  well  as  over  the  whole 
northern  part  of  the  country.  It  not  only  covers  the  clay  deposite  in  most 
of  the  localities  where  the  latter  has  been  observed,  but  also  extends  over 
many  places  where  tliis  does  not  reach.  We  have  stated  that  the  clay, 
even  at  its  highest  level,  was  generally  limited' to  the  depressions.    The 


Doc.  No.  69. 


1)89 


md  to  coh- 
I  (Ar  as  its 

and  clay, 
le  and  trap 
)f  the  clay 
8,  and   of-' 

are  many 
fable  si  26) 
and  native 
ing  several' 
opper  scat- 
's was  first' 
extensively 

ot'  be  cow- 
n  in  maK}^ 
i  materials) 
i^r  is  there- 
ther  at  the- 
iposite  was' 

jad  over  an 
ilesoutherH 
lis  river  as 
irs  also  on- 
tance  along 
owever,  byi 
ift  assumes 
if  red  sand- 

I  it  appears- 
•!,  a  regular 
to  a  certain 

II  conclude 
ed,  the  im- 
)ast  around 
erroneous ; 
s,  we  meet 
dred  feet — 

in  several 
n  the  river 
s  composi- 
'luted,  and 
ved,  how- 
epressions 

of  all  the 
the  whole 
te  in  most 
tends  over 
t  the  clay, 
mm.    The 


drift  sand  and  gravel  have  no  such  limitations.  It  is  found  on  the  tip- 
lands  and  along  the  slopes  of  tl;e  hills,  as  well  as  in  the  depressions. 
Although  separated  from  the  drift  cf  the  western  prairies  by  the  dividing 
ridge  between  the  upper  peninsula  of  Michigan  and  Wisconsin,  yet  in 
many  places,  where  the  riage  is  not  of  considerable  elevation,  it  may  be 
seen  passing  directly  from  one  slope  to  the  other,  especially  on  the  south- 
eastern corner  of  the  lake — as  we  shall  have  occasion  to  show  hereafwr. 
It. is  likewise  said  to  pass  from  one  slope  to  the  other  at  the  southwestern 
border  between  the  lake  and  the  headwaters  of  the  Mississippi.  It  is 
found  on  the  highest  summits  of  the  Pictured  Rocksi — nearly  two  hundred 
feet.  Its  relation  to  the  drift  clay  can  be  easily  ascertainetl  merely  from 
the  state  of  the  roads  and  trails,  which  are  generally  dry  and  pleasant  on 
the  drift  sand.  No  rule  obtains  as  to  the  composition  of  the  drift'saiid 
and  gravel,  either  in  reference  to  the  size  or  the  mineralogieal  character 
of  the  materials. 

Layers  of  line  sand  alternate  in  every  possible  way  with  layers  of  peb- 
bles— sometimes  by  a  gradual  transition,  at  others  rather  abruptly.    The 
pebbles  themselves  are  composed  of  all  kinds  of  stone — some  from  the 
immediate  neighborhood,  others  from  )4aces  more  remote.     They  are 
generallv  rounded  aiid  smoothed,  showing  that  they  must  have  under- 
gone a  prolonged  and  violent  motion>  such  as  could  havq  taken  place  only 
in  the  water.     The  same  is  the  case  with  the  boulders  imbedded  in  the 
mass,  of  which  there  are  many  of  considerable  size — from  five  to  six  feet 
through.    Many  of  the  boulders  are  also  covered  with  scratches,  such  as 
could  have  been  produced  only  by  a  violent  and  steady  rubbing.     We 
would  state,  besides,  as  a  further  peculiarity  of  the  drift  pebbles  and 
boulders,  that  they  are  generally  clean,  there  being  no  loam  or< mud  at- 
tached to  them— a  peculiarity  which  is  in  itself  sufficient  to  distinguish 
the  gravel  dru^t  from  the  loam  deposites  of  coarse  drift  before  described. 
The  thickness  of  the  drift-sand  and  gravel,  like  that  of  the  clay,  is  best 
ascertained  along  the  shore  of  the  lake.    There  seems  to  be  a  sort  of  an- 
tagonism as  to  tlie  relative  thickness  of  both  deposites  between  th^  east- 
ern and  western  portion&of  the  lake  shore.     Whilst  the  clay  seems  to;as- 
sume  its  greatest  thickness  west  of  Keweenaw  Point,  the  sand  and  gravel 
seem:  most  developed  to  the  east  of  that, point. >   Its  grea<(est  thickness  we 
fbund  to  be  at  Grand  Sable,  where  the  coast  rises,  according  to  Mr.>Whit- 
jiey's  barometrical  measurement,  360  feet  above  the  lake;  and  since  the 
clay  stratum  underneath  is  only  sixty  feet  thick,  it  gives«n  amountof 
three  hundred  feet  for  the  sand  and  gravel  deposite.    From  that  spot  the 
same  drift  ideposite  may  be  seen  extending  in  the  form  of  a  high  cliff,  to 
the  southeast,  generally  some  miles  distant  from  the  lake  shore;  until  it 
reaches  it  again  at  Point  Iroquois,   where  it  rises  almost  to  the  same 
height — 345  feet;  thence  it  sinks  gradu ally  towards  the  ^iaut.     A  further 
peculiarity  of  the  driflsand  and  gravel  deposites  we  would  mention — their 
iwegulaaf  and  undulating  surface,  especially  where  they  cover  wide  tracts 
of  country:  as,  for  instance,  in  the  plains  of  Wisconsin  and  Illinois, 
which,  from  this  feature,  have  beenilenominated  roiling  prairies,  in  op- 
position to  the  level  prairies,  which  are.  mostly  alluvial.    The  shores  of 
Lake  Superior  are,  in  this  respect,  less  striking^owing,  nc  doubt,  to  the 
fact  that  the  country  is  less  level,  and  also  in  consequence  of  the  forests 
which  cover  the  ground  almost  everywhere.     The  summit  of  the  Grand 
Sable,  as  will  be  notice!  subsequently,  is  the  place  where  this  undula- 


11W) 


Doc.N<v^. 


tih^  appeararico  f's '  hiost  striking  on  the  lake  shrtfe.  T^ere  can  be  no 
doubt  that,  as  a  whole,  the  drift  sand  and  gravel  is  a  stratified  deposite, 
■although  the  stratification  is  perhaps  more  imperfect  than  in  any  other  sed- 
imentary formation.  The  strata  are  generally  the  most  distinct  where  the 
mass  is  composed  of  fine  sand.  They  are  less  conspicuous  in  the  gravel, 
except  where  it  altematss  with  layers  of  sand  or  clay,  in  which  case  the 
separation  into  layers  is  sometimes  very  distinct.  As  a  frequent  occur- 
rence, we  would  especially  mention  those  irregular  layers  which  hate 
been  designated  under  the  name  of  cross-stratification  by  some,  and  of 
discordant  stratification  by  others.  There  may  be  sometimes  seen  in  a 
single  section  three,  four,  five,  and  even  more  plans  of  stratification, 
forming  among  ihemselves  all  sorts  of  angles — some  horizontal,  some 
slightly  inclined,  and  others  almost  vertical.  Instances  of  such  stratifi- 
cation are  to  be  seen  all  along  the  coast  of  Lake  Superior,  in  the  drift  as 
well  as  in  the  alluvial  sand.  They  are  less  frequent  where  the  deposites 
assume  a  more  loamy  character.  It  is  well  known  that  this  discordant 
stratification  is  not  limited  to  the  quarternary  deposites,  but  occurs  in 
sandstone  of  every  age.  Along  Lake  Superior,  where  the  drift  deposites 
rest  immediately  on  the  Potsdam  sandstone,  it  is  a  rather  impressive  sight 
for  a  geologist  to  witness,  side  by  side,  this  structure  both  in^the  oldest 
and  most  recent  of  the  sedimentary  formations,  thus  showing  that  the  same 
laws  of  deposition,  even  in  minor  details,  have  prevailed  at  all  times  in  the 
formation  of  the  earth's  crust.  Some  doubt  still  exists  as  to  the  cause  Qf 
these  singular  stratifications.  The  attention  of  geologists  was  first  di- 
rected to  them  in  the  recent  deposites  of  the  valley  of  Switzerland,  where 
two  rivers  (the  Rhone  and  Arve)  meet.  They  were  ascribed  by  M. 
Necker  to  the  disturbance  caused  by  the  meeting  of  two  currents  of  va- 
riable strength,  contending  with  each  other  in  the  same  bed,  whence  the 
strata  resulting  from  this  conflict  were  called  stratijications  torrentielles. 
In  this  way  the  Swiss  geologists  succeeded  in  explaining,  not  only  the 
variable  inclination  of  the  strata,  but  also  their  difference  of  materials, 
when  it- happens  that  one  of  the  cunents  carries  coarser  substances  than 
the  other.  It  is  evident,  however,  that  this  explanation  does  not  apply 
to  the  similar  structure  of  the  sand  deposites  along  the  sea  and  lake 
shore,  where  the  conflict  is  no  longer  caused  by  rivers,  but  by  the  con- 
tending forces  of  waves  and  currents.  We  know,  for  instance,  that  in 
some  shallow  harbors — that  of  Charlesiown,  for  exaniple — the  pilots  have 
to  make  out  the  channel  after  every  severe  gale.  This  shows  that  the 
waves  exert  a  strong  influence  upon  the  bottom,  where  it  is  shallow 


enough 


to  come  within  their  reach;  and  since,  from  the  nature  of  the 


waves,  we  must  suppose  their  action  to  be  broken  and  unsteady,  we 
might  well  expect  such  irregular  strata  to  be  formed  wherever  the  waves 
and  tides  come  in  conflict.  Along  Lake  Superior  there  are  no  tidal  cur- 
rents, as  far  as  we  know;  but  the  currents  resulting  from  the  changes  of 
the  wind  are  strong  enough  to  account  for  similar  conflicts.  If  this-ex- 
planaiion  be  true,  we'  might  then  expect  such  discordant  stratification 
wherever  the  water  is  shallow  enough  to  sllow  the  bottom  to  be  stirred 
up  by  the  waves.  Indeed,  there  is  every  probability  that  all  sand  and 
sandstone  formations  which  exhibit  a  similar  structure  have  been  formed 
in  shallow  water — ah  inference  which,  as  far  as  the  drift  is  concerned,  is 
confirmed  by  other  considerations,  which  wo  shall  examine  hereafter. 
4.  Boulders. — Of  all  the  drift  deposites,  the  boulders  have,  from  all 


of 
the 


Doc.  No.  69. 


Idl 


can  be  no 
4  deposite, 
other  sed- 
:  where  the 
the  gravel, 
ch  case  the 
lent  occur- 
vhich  hate 
ime,  and  of 
!8  seen  in  a 
ratification, 
ontal,  some 
uch  stratifi- 
the  drift  as 
le  depositee 
discordant 
it  occurs  in 
ift  deposites 
essivc  sight 
n.,the  oldest 
lat  the  same 
times  in  the 
the  cause  qf 
was  first  di- 
land,  where 
ibed  by  M. 
rents  of  va- 
whence  the 
'.orrentielles. 
lot  only  the 
if  materials, 
stances  than 
Bs  not  apply 
ea  and  lake 
by  the  con- 
ice,  that  in 
1  pilots  have 
iws  that  the 
is   shallow 
iture  of  the 
isteady,  we 
the  waves 
10  tidal  cur- 
! changes  of 
If  this-ex- 
itratification 
;o  be  stirred 
ill  sand  and 
leen  formed 
ncerned,  is 
reafter. 
,  from  all 


times  and  in  all  countries,  excited  the  greatest  interest,  in  consequence  of 
their  size,  as  well  as  of  their  position.  The  mere  view  of  a  huge  block 
of  granite,  situated,  as  it  often  happens,  on  the  sunimit  of  a  hill,  whilst 
the  rock  on  which  it  rests  is  of  limestone  or  sandstone,  is  sufficient  to 
excite  the  curiosity  of  every  thinking  man,  as  to  the  place  from  which 
this  stranger  may  have  come,  and  as  to  the  mode  by  wnich  its  transpor- 
tation was  accomplished.  We  ought  not  to  be  astonished,  therefore,  that 
njost  of  the  theories  which  have  been  imagined  to  solve  the  problem  of 
the  drift  should  refer  chiefly,  if  not  exclusively,  (o  the  boulders.  From 
looking  at  them  in  a  too  exclusive  point  of  view,  most  geologists  have 
misunderstood  their  true  signification;  they  have  overlooked  the  other 
more  regular  deposites  with  which  they  are  connected:  thus  forgetting 
that  the  boulders  form  but  a  part  of  the  drift  formation,  and  represent  but 
one  single  though  striking  event  in  a  long  period  of  the  earth's  history — 
that  of  the  qilarternary  epoch.  This  we  consider  the  chief  cause  of  the 
insufficiency  of  most  of  the  theories.  Before  we  attempt  any  explana- 
tion, our  object  will  be  first  to  examine  their  peculiarities,  as  exemplified 
in  t!«e  region  of  Lake  Superior — which  we  deem  the  more  important,  as 
this  region  seems  to  have  been\he  point  of  departure  for  many  of  them, 
scattered  far  and  wide  over  the  country.  Boulders  of  every  size  and* 
description  occur  in  great  numbers  along  the  whole  southern  shore,  and 
are  said  to  be  as  numerous  along  the  north  shore.  As  a  whole,  they  did 
not  stiike  me  by  their  dimensions.  They  do  not  by  any  means  equa) 
those  huge  masses  found  in  Switzerland  and  in  many  parts  of  New 
England.  The  largest  boulder  which  I  noticed  was  one  of  hornblende, 
near  Carp  river,  measuring  16  feet  in  length,  11  in  width,  and  6J  in 
height;  another,  near  the  Portage,  measured  8^  feet  iii  length  and  6  in 
width.  Qn  the  borders  of  Lake  Superior,  as  in  all  other  countries  where 
drift  occurs,  the  boulders  are  the  most  widely  diffused.  They  are  scat- 
tered over  the  whole  country,  and  may  be  seen  at  all  heights,  where  no 
other  drift  deposites  reach.  They  are  truly  the  vanguard  of  the  drift  for- 
mation, in  height  as  well  as  space.  Ev^n  the  dividing  ridge,  where  it 
rises  the  highest,  does  not  limit  their  extent;  for  they  have  been  found  as 
(high  as  one  thousand  feet  above  the  lake  south  of  the  Anse,  and  may  be 
from  thence  traced  uninterruptedly  along  the  southern  slope. of  the  ridge 
into  the  prairies  of  Wisconsin  and  Illinois.  As  to  their  mineralogical 
composition,  there  is  every  variety  of  rocks  to  be  found,  and  in  many  in- 
stances they  may  be  traced  to  their  origin  at  no  very  great  distance.  We 
thus  soon  accustomed  ourselves  not  to  look  any  longer  upon  them  as 
strangers,  as  we  do  where  there  is  no  analogy  whatever  between  them 
and  the  rocks  on  which  they  rest.  Among  the  most  numerous  boulders 
along  the  lake  may  be  mentioned  those  of  granite,  trap,  and  hornblende 
rocks,  which  are  common  to  both  shores.  Boulders  of  sandstone  *are 
less  frequent,  in  spite  of  the  great  predominance  of  this  rock  along  the 
south  shore — a  circumstance  easily  accounted  for  by  its  greater  softness, 
which  renders  it  the  more  destructible.  As  a  general  rule,  it  may  be 
stated  that  most  of  the  boulders  scattered  over  the  Lake  Superior  region 
have  not  come  from  far.  This  is  of  the  utmost  importance,  since  it  ac- 
tually enables  us  to  trace  the  route  which  they  have  followed ;  and  as  to 
their  direction,  I  feel  no  hesitation  in  affirming  that  most  of  the  boulders 
within  the  region  of  Lake  Superior  have  been  transported  from  north  to 
south.    As  instances  of  this  southerly  transportation,  I  shall  state  the 


\m 


Doc.  No.  69. 


.following  iacts.    The  iron  region  of  Lake  Superior  is  situated  near  Carp 
triver,  east  of  Keweenaw  Point;  and,  although  the  ridges  where  the  iron 
ore  occurs  are  only  some  ten  mile  v  from  the  shore,  yet  there  is  not  a  sin- 
,,gle  boulder,  nor. even  pebble,  of  iron  to  be  seen  north  of  the  ridges.   This 
,;Ore,  of  which  thdre  are  innumerable  fr,agrnents  scattered  at  the;  foot  aad 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  ridges,  is  so  conspicuous,  from  its  bandod 
J  structure,  that  it  would  undoubtedly  have  been  noticed,  if  it  did  occur  at 
.idl  north  of  its  origin.    In  going  from  the  iron  ridges  towards  the  south, 
,,iron  pebbles  and  boulders  occur, in  abundance,  and  may  be  traced  fo^ 
.  some  distance.   Thus,  in  S.eptember  last,  Mr.  Whitney,  starting  from  the 
.ridges  east  of  the  Jackson  location,  traced  boulders  of  iron  ore  all  along 
.his  route  towards  the  Escan aba  river,  some  twelve  miles  ofi';  and  they 
,,ipight  probably  be  found  still  further  south,  were  it  not  for  the  swampy 
^  chsutacter  of  the  country.    This  southerly  transportation  is  furtlier  con- 
g.firiped  by  the  boulder^  of  the  beach  itself,  which  point  to  the  north  shore 
.,«s  their  birth-place.    This  applies  especially  to  the  copper  region  west  of 
I  .Keweenaw  Point.    There  trap  and  sandstone  are  the  only  rocks  in  place; 
.,r^nd  yet  among  the  boulders  scattered  over  the  surface  there  are  many  of 
V^ranite  and  hornblende,  which  have  ei^dently  their  origin  on  theojpposite 
j  shore,  where  we  know  these  rocks  to  be  very  abundant.    Thus  ithap- 
j  pens  that,  when  travelling  from  soiuth  to  north,  the  appearance  of  a  new 
j  lormation  is  always  indicated  by  thei  occurrence  of  single  boulders  of  it, 
♦  whilst  nothing  of  the  kind  takes  place  when  travelling  from  north, to 
1.  south.    This  precession  of  the  boulders  is  especially  striking  among  the 
,  ridges  of  the  iron  region  north  of  Carp  river,  where  there  is  often  a  great 
]  .variety  of  structure  in  the  rocks  of  the  idijfferent  ridges.     '1  here  the  val- 
,,,leys  between  the  difft-rent  ridges  contain,  for  the  most  pact,  boulders firoim 
..-, the  next  ridge  to  the  north.    There  are  also  instances  where  a  ridge  did 
^not  allow  the  fragments  of  the  pieceding  ridges  to  pass.    Asirikipgin- 
,,  §tance  of  this  has  been  observed   by  Mr.  Hill  west  of  the  Jackson  looa- 
,  tion,  where  the  slate  and  iron  boiUders  ai'e  heaped  up  in  great  q,uan,U{ti/e3 
,,on  the  northern  slope  of  a  greenstone  dike,  whilst  there  are  none  on  the 
;.. granite  slopes,  south  of  this  dike,  which  has  therefore  acted  as  a, barrier, 
..preventing  their  transportation  further  south.    This  limitation  prevails, 
..Bowever,  only  within  the  billy  portion  of  the  Xrfike  Superior  region,  be- 
I  tween  the  lake  shore  and  the  dividing  ridge.    Spjuth  of  the  ridge  nothipg 
...of  the  kind  seems  to  ocqur.    There  being  no  further  barrier  to, chepk 
..iheir  course  towards  the  south,  they  have, travelled  even  to  the, very  limit 
,,of  the  drift  deposite;  and  thus,  it  happens  tliat  boulders  of  the  Lake  Su- 
.tperior  regipn  are  found  as.far  SQi^thasthe  OItuo— ^that  is  to -say,  more  than 
six  hundred  miles  from  the  dividing  ridge,  the. nearest, place  from  which 
they  could  possibly  be  derived.    We  think,  therefore,  that  there  is  .satis- 
,  factory  reason  to  consider  the  region  of  Lake.  Superior,  and  especially  the 
,  rim  of  cliifs  and  hills  which  surrounds  its  basin,  as  thebirtb-^ace  of  the 
.areatest  quantity  of  boulders  scattered  over  the  western  States  of  the 
',  Union  between  the  Alleghany  mountains  and  thoi Mississippi ;,  and  frpm 
_   this  consideration,  the  region  of  Lake  Superior,  more  than  any  other,  de- 
serves a  close  attention  on  thepart.of  the  ge.oloigist  who  attempts  to  solve 
,    the  problem  of  the, drift  of  this  country.    By  far  the  greatest  quantity  of 
boulders  on  Lake  Superior,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  are  situated  on  thesur- 
,  ,  face,  above  all  other  drift  deposites.    This,  of  course,  is  in  itpelf  a  proof 
that  they  have  been  deposited  posteriorly  to  ithese  formations.    JBiit  be- 


\f 


■^:« 


Doc.  No.  69. 


1  l_f  .  %    9  1 


193 


lear  Carp 
I  the  iron 
Qot  a  sin- 
es. Tins 
},  foot  and 
tsbapfied 
[1  o<5Cur  at 
;he  90iith, 
traced  fo^ 
5  from  the 
B  all  along 
;  and  th^y 
le  swqiropy 
jrilier  con- 
lorth  shore 
ion  west  of 
ts  in  place; 
le  many  of 
heopposite 

'hus  it  bap- 

;e  of  a  new 

liters  of  it, 

om  north  ,to 

r  among  the 

>fien  a  great 

;ieie  the  val- 

puldersfirosm 

!  a  ridge  did 

sinking  in- 

ickson  loca- 

it  qviantijti^s 

none  on  the 

as  a  ibarrier, 

on  prevails, 
region,be- 

Ig^  nothipg 
[iertochepk 
e, very  limit 
,e  Lake  Su- 
,  jnore  ^hau 
from  whiph 
lere  is.satis- 
ipecialiy  tjie 
[place  of  the 
it?ites  of  the 
ji;,  and.frpm 
|y  otfoer,  de- 
pts  to  solve 
quantity  of 
on  tbe^ur- 
tgelf  a  proof 
Is.    fiut  be- 


,f",/^,f£.^  .,•-.,. 


r»r  f\<.»*  r  ■ .}  ilVlA  nT(»»'>'  s.«»»\'« .'■■> 


cause  they  are  of  a  more  recent  origin,  this  does  by  no  means  prove  that 
they  are  disconnected  from  the  other  drift  doposites.  We  have  seen  thnt 
an  abundance  of  boulders  are  to  be  found  both  in  the  drift  clay  and  f^aud 
of  Lake  Superior.  The  only  difference  between  them  is,  that  wliiht 
those  of  the  surface  are  often  more  or  less  angular,  those  imbedded  in  t!ie 
clay  and  sand  are  generally  more  rounded,  and  often  scratched  and 
striated — a  peculiarity  which  we  shall  afterwards  attempt  to  explain. 
Now,  as  the  boulders  within  the  drift  are  of  the  same  kind  as  those  of 
the  surface,  and  have,  like  them,  a  northern  origin,  (thotigh  sometimes 
not  a  great  way  off,)  we  are  naturally  led  to  the  inference  that  they  Were. 
transported  by  the  same  agencies,  which  must,  therefore,  have  been  at 
work  during  th^  deposition  of  the  drift  period.  Moreover,  this  agency 
must  have  been  as  powerful  at  the  tinie  of  the  drift  and  clay  deposites  as 
afterwards,  since  we  know  that  many  of  the  included  boulders  are  as  mas- 
sive and  as  heavy  as  those  of  the  surface.  It  is  evident,  therefore,  th.'>t 
no  theory  can  be  admissible  which  does  not  at  the  same  time  account 
satisfactorily  for  the ' transportation  both  of  the  boulders  ofthesurfaeo 
and  of  those  of  the  drift-sand  and  clay. 

6.  Grooved,  scratched,  and  polished  rocks. — Whatever  opinion  we  may 
entertain  as  to  the  cause  and  origip  of  the  drift,  there  is  a  point  upon  which 
all  geologists  who  are  familiar  with  the  subject  agree,  viz:  that  there  is 
an  unquestionable  connexion  between  the, drift-deposites and  the  rounded, 
smoothed,  and  grooved  appearance  of  the  rocks  upon  which  thoy 
rest.  Wherever  drift  occurs,  it  is  associated  with  that  peculiar  appear- 
ance of  the  ledges,  which  is  instantly  recognised.  The  surfaces  are  th(^ 
more  perfect,  as  the  rocks  are  harder  and  less  prone  to  disintegration. 
Thuti  n  our  district  they  are  mostdistinct  on  the  trapand  compact  slates ;  lef-s 
so  on  the  granite  and  compact  limestone;  and  are  not  expected  to  bo  found 
on  the  sedimentary  limestones,  in  many  places  the  striaa  and  fuiTows 
have  dilsappeareJ  in  consequence  of  the  disintegration,  and  there  remains 
nothing  but  the  rounded  outline  of  the  rocks,  which,  from  their  resem- 
blance to  fleecy  clouds,  have  been  called,  in  the  Alps,  fleecy  rocks. 

In  many  instances  the  polished  and  grooved  f  ."'^  ces  are  concealed  by 
the  drift,  and  are  not  visible  until  by  some  means  d  e  deposite  is  removed. 
This  explains  sufficiently  why  so  general  a  phenomenon  should  have  been' 
for  so  long  a  time  overlwced  by  geologists;  for  it  is  only  about  forty  years 
since  it  was  first  mentioned,  and  only  ten  years  since  it  was  brought  into 
general  notice.  One  striking  peculiarity  of  the  rocks  subjected  to  erratic 
agency  consists  in  th6  fact  that,  whilst  one  side  is  smoothed  down ,  the  oppo- 
site side  is  rough  and  angular,  as  if  it  had  been  sheltered  from  the  abradir>g 
process.  These  are  known  as  the  lea  and  strike  sides.  By  means  of  this 
feature  we  are  enabled  to  recognise  the  direction  in  which  the  erratioagency 
operated,  even  where  there  are  no  scratches.  The  lea  side  is  invariably 
to  the  south  over  the  whole  of  this  district — a  feature  which  we  ought  to 
expect,  when  we  consider  the  origin  of  the  groovings. 

As  a  leading  feature  of  all  groovings,  we  may  mention  their  straight 
course.  Whatever  the  direction,  they  are  in  stiaight  lines,  whether  coii- 
tinuous  or  interrupted — thus  showing  that  they  must  have  been  formed  by 
an  agency  unyielding  and  steadily  applied.  There  is  but  one  instance 
where  curved  strias  have  been  observed  in  thii  region,  which  will  be  no- 
ticed  hereafter. 

Groovings  of  all  sizes  occur.    The  m.^st  conirnon  I'.'rm  is  that  oi'i>av,i!- 


194 

••'■;l 


Doc. 


,^.«?f 


lei  furrows  from  one  to  two  and  four  lines  wide — sometimes  extending  bnt 
a  foot,  at  others  many  yards.  Where  the  rock  is  excessively  hard  they 
are  mere  striee,  which  are  often  as  distinct  and  sharp  as  though  they  had 
been  sraven  with  the  point  of  a  diamond.  Hollow  spots  are  observed,  as 
thougn  they  had  been  scooped  out  by  a  round  instrument;  also,  W8  ob- 
serve wide  bowl-shaped  depressions,  known  as /row^Aj,  and  which  have 
been  caused  by  the  same  agency,  since  they  are  always  found  parallel 
■with  the  striae.  Instances  of  all  these  different  forms  exist  on  both  shores 
of  the  lake  and  on  IsleB^yale. 

As  to  the  direction  of  the  srrioj  in  this  district,  it  will  be  seen  that,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  local  deviations,  they  are  northeast  and  southwest — 
a  direction  which  also  prevails  along  the  western  shore  of  Michigan,  and 
in  portions  of  the  western  States.  This  direction  forms  a  striking  contrast 
with  that  which  prevails  throughout  New  England.  There,  they  bear 
north westand  southeast.  We  shall  hereafter  attempt  to  explain  this  singular 
opposition  in  the  stria?  of  the  two  regions  east  and  west  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  and  show  their  relation  in  determining  the  'leading  features  oi  the 
continent. 

6.   Terraces  and  ridges. — The  terraces  and  ridges  of  the  great  lakes 
have  of  late  attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention,  inasmuch  as  they  have  a 
direct  bearing  upon  the  question  of  the  changes  of  level  which  the  sur- 
face is  supposed  lo  have  undergone  during  the  epoch  of  the  drifY.    They 
may  be  seen  both  on  the  south  and  the  north  shores  of  Ijake  Superior, 
though  they  are  less  striking  here  than  around  the  lower  lakes,  (Erie  and 
Ontario.)    Those  of  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Superior  have  been  de- 
scribed by  Mr.  Logan.     They  are  most  conspicuous  at  a  locality  called 
"Les  Petits  Ecrits,"  of  which  Mr.  Eliott  Cabot  has  given  a  fine  sketch 
in  his  Narrative.    Those  of  the  south  shore  have  thus  far  been  but  little 
noticed,  probably  because  they  occur  chiefly  in  that  portion  of  the  lake-dis- 
trict which  is  the  least  visited,  viz:  between  the  Saut  and  Keweenaw 
Point.     Bbyo^nd  that  point,  there  may  be  seen,  in  many  places,  along  the 
shore  of  the  copper  region,  high  bluffs  of  drift;  but  they  nowhere  assume 
that  stair-like  form  which  is  the  characteristic  feature  of  terraces.    To 
avoid  confusion,  it  might  not  be  inappropriate  to  explain  what  is  meant  by 
the  terms  terrace,  bluff,  and  ridge,  as  we  shall  have  to  allude  frequently 
to  them  in  the  following  descriptions.     Drift  bluffs,  or  cliffs,  are  those 
-  accumulations  of  loose  materials  which  terminate  Abruptly  in  steep  slopes. 
The  steepness  of  the  slope  depends  in  most  cases  chiefly  upon  the  kind 
of  materials  of  which  the  bluff  is  composed.    Thus,  bluffs  of  clay  are 
steeper  than  bluffs  of  loam,  and  bluffs  of  loam  steeper  than  bluffs  of  sand 
jix  gravel.    The  term,  terrace,  is  applied  when  several  such  slopes  are 
seen  one  above  the  oiher,  so  as  to  appear  like  the  steps  of  a  stair-case. 
Ridges  differ  from  terraces  in  having  a  doable  slope,  and  being,  therefore, 
real  hills;  whereas  bluffs  and  terraces  are  merely  the  margins  of  plateaux. 
In  a  geological  point  of  view,  the  terraces  are  by  far  the  most  important 
of  these  three  forms,  since  they  afford  direct  evidences  of  the  changes  of 
level  which  haVe  occurred  since  the  deposition  of  the  drift.    There  can 
be  no  doubt  that,  wherever  terraces  of  stratified  materials  are  found 
above  each  other,  the  waters  have  once  stood  at  so  many  levels.     It 
might  be,  and  indeed  it  has  been,  inferred  from  this,  that  when  terraces 
eccur  along  ashore,  they  ought  to  be  found  everywhere  of  the  same  size; 
and  hence;  that  when  their  level  is  irreglilar,  it  is  a  proof  that  the  up- 


IPlec.  No.  ^9. 


w^w 


1  they 
Y  had 
ed,as 
ra  ob- 
i  have 
arallel 
shores 
'   '  "  : ', 
I,  with 
west — 
n,  and 
OFiitrast 
y  bear 
ingular 
llegha- 
oflhe 

^n•>il•'■i^^■^■ 

it  lakes 
have  a 
the  sur- 
They 
uperior, 
Zxie  and 
►een  de- 
ty  called 
e  sketch 
but  little 
ake-dis- 
weenaw 
ong  the 
assume 
es.    To 
leant  by 
jqnently 
re  those 
slopes, 
he  kind 
ftiay  are 
of  sand 
lopes  are 
lair-case. 
lerefore, 
|)lateaux. 
nporiant 
langes  of 
Ihere  can 
|re  found 
rels.     It 
terraces 
|me  size; 
the  up- 


I 


'9lf. 


heaval  u^as  not  uniform.    This  view,  although  correct  in  principle,  Lb, 
however,  apt  to  l<}ad  to  mistakes  when  applied  without  discriroination. 

Fig.  41.        ,,   ,;.,,j^,  Sappose  diagram  41  to  repre- 

I  sent  u  lake.  Let  the  water  sink, 
!  or  ratlier  the  land  rise,  at  different 
/^•intervals,  so  as  to  reduce  succes- 
jsively  the  water-level  from  a  to  b, 
j  and  then  from  6,  to  c.  The  beach- 
line,  (provided  there  be  one,) 
striking  the  shore  in  an  uninterrupted  manner,  will  be  found  everywhere 
at  the  same  level;  but  it  by  no  means  follows  that  the  resulting  terraces 
will  be  found  unifprm  arouud  the  whole  lake.  The  error  in  this  respect 
arii^es  from  the  fact  that  terraces  have  been  too  often  mistaken  for, 
9r  confounded  with,  mere  beaches.  It  should  not  be  lost  sight  of  that 
terraces  and  bluffs  are  the  result  of  the  undermiiiiug  action  of  the  wav«s. 
Their  size  and  shape  must  therefore  be  determined  by  the  foifce  of  this 
agency.  If  a  basin  of  water  is  so  situated  as  to  have  one  of  its  sI^qs 
exposed  to  the  full  force  of  gales,  while  the,  opposite  sho^e  is  sheltered  by 
highlands,  we  may  easily  conceive  of  a  subsidence  of  the  waters  from 
a  higher  to  a  lower  level,  without  at  all  altering  the  slope  of  the  coast: 
9S,  tor  example,  on  the  left  side  of  the  basin,  i,  in  diagram  41.  lu  th^ 
mean  time,  the  right  shore,  not  being  protected,  will  be  so  acted  upon  ap 
to  occasion  a  successiqn  of  terraces.  A^aiu,  the  destructive  action  niay 
be  so  effective  iu  certain  places  as  to  was1i  off,  in  the  course  oif  tipie,  eiwu 
the  terraces  of  former  levels,  and  to  leave  only  a  single  bluff,  as  in4icated ' 
by  the  dotted  lijae. 

There  are  many  places  along  the  lake  shore  where  the  peculiar  ^lape 
■of  the  terraces  and  their  diversity  are  to  be-  ascribed  to  such  a  process. 

The  diagram  42  will  render 
this  still  more  evident.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  that  the  wafer 
Once  stood  at  the  foot  of  the 
upper  terrace,  »w,  and  tihi^t, 
while  stationary,  the  upp^sr 
bluff  was  formed.  Afteriwariis^ 
the  water-level  sank,  ;wd  another  bluff  was  formed  at  n,  and,  stiU  \atfii(,. 
another  at  o  The  suolidence  of  the  water  must  have  been  iutermittentt — 
the  epochs  of  subsidence,  which  are  indicated  by  the  areas  between  Ihe 
terraces,  being  tollpwed  by  intervals  of  quiet,  during  which  tlje  tertaces 
were  formed.  But  this  regular  succession  of  terraces  does  not  extend  far. 
It  is  limited  to  a  small  space  iu  our  diagram;  and,  as  we  advance  towards 
t(ie  left,  we  see  the  intervids  between  the  terraces  growing  more  and  more 
rtarrow,  till  they  completely  disappear — being,  as  it  were,  crowded  into  a 
single  bluff  B.  Further  on,  we  see  the  bluff  itself  increasing  ^p- 
ialy  in  height,  and  by-and-by  disappearing  entirely,  leaving  nothing 
but  a  gentle  uniform  slope,  A.  In  the  above  instance,  the  cir<;u)Qi8tan9e 
that  thes^  different  forms  of  terraces  occur  within  a  narrow  spetce,  and 
pass  gradually  into  eacli  other,  excludes  at  once  tlie  idea  of  a  local 
change  of  level.  It  must  be  evident  to  any  one  that  they  cannot  but  be 
the  result  of  actual  causes.    But,  should  they  occur  at  great, disftance.s, 


Fig.  43. 


IM 


Doc.  No.  69i 


tttJr  ■'?  »■■>'...■ 


n^im   'fi'f 


such  differences  mfght  easily  lead  to  error.  Let  us  sappose,  for  a  mo- 
ment, that  we  know  the  above  terraces  and  bluff's  merely  from  transverse 
Vt$.i3.  sections,  (such   as   renresented   in   fig.  43:) 

lU  4i,i  .,'.  would  we  not  infer  tnat  the  difference  be- 
tween the  section,  B,  and  section,  A,  resulted 
from  the'  fact  that  B  was  raised  higher  than 
A,  and  likewise  that  B  and  A  were  both 
raised  at  once,  whilst  C  was  raised  at  three 
snccessiye  intervals  ?•  Thus,  not  taking  into 
account  the  action  of  the  wave»,  and  the  po- 
sition of  the  shores  m  reference  to  the  predom- 
inant winds,  (as  exemplified  in  diagram  49,) 
we  might  perhaps  be  induced  to  recur  to  ex- 
travagant hypotheses,  call  in  aid  even  the  trap 
ri  0  dikes,  and  other  paroxysmal  agencies,  to  ac- 
count for  features  which  are  most  readily  explained  by  the  mere  play  of 
met^brological  agencies. 

However,  we  do  not  pretend  to  assert  that  the  upheavals  which  laid 
jare  a  great  portion  of  the  drift  deposites  have  been  uniform  throughout. 
We  know  that  there  are,  almost  in  every  drift  country,  undoubted  proofs 
of  local  changes  of  level  afforded  by  the  drift  terraces  j  and  we  shall  have 
occasion  hereafter  to  refer  to  such  an  origin  for  those  dift'erences  of  level 
which  are  to  be  traced  in  an  ui^interrupted  manner  over  vast  tracts  of 
country,  especially  along  the  sea  shore.  But  we  should  be  careful  to  call 
in  such  causes  only  when  the  phenomena  cannot  be  otherwise  explained. 
Ridges  are  often  associated  with  terraces,  and  have  frequently  been  con- 
founded with  them.  They  differ  from  terraces  in  being  actual  hills,  rising 
from  a  plain,  with  a  slope  on  each  side.  Sometimes  they  extend  for  a  long 
distance  along  the  shore  of  the  sea,  or  an  inland  lake — as, lor  instance.  Lakes 
Erie  and  Ontario,  where  they  are  commonly  used  as  roads,  being  dryer 
than  the  surrounding  grounds.  From  their  situation,  as  well  qs  their  po- 
sition, these  ridges  have  the  greatest  analogy  to  ancient  beaches,  and  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  many  of  them  have  no  other  origin.  In  that  case 
they  are  the  most  reliable  evidence  for  ascertaining  local  changes.  Beaches 
have  almost  uniformly  gentle  slopes,  rarely  exceeding  12'*;  but  there  are 
amo«^  the  ridges  some  which  are  too  high,  with  sjppes  too  abrupt,  to  be 
considered  as  mere  beaches. 

Since  attention  was  first  attracted  to  them  in  Sweden,  where  they  go  by 
the  nanve  of  oesars,  (which  mean  sand  hills,)  I  shall  designate  them 
henceforth  by  thf\t  name.  There  is  every  probability  that  they  were  form- 
ed as  shoais,  or  bars,  or  banks,  underwater,  rather  than  on  the  border  of 
the  coast,  since  we  Ic^ow  that  such  ridges  are  forming  in  our  day  in 
shallow  water  both  in  the  sea  and  large  lakes.  It  ought  to  be  remembered 
that  the  summit  of  these  submarine  ridges  is  not  always  even,  nor  their 
/bearing  necessarily  horizontal ;  so' that  a  slight  inequality  in  their  outlines, 
especially  if  limited  to  a  narrow  space,  does  no  more  imply  a  local  change 
of  level  than  in  the  case  of  the  terraces  before  mentioned.  Since,  from  the 
:;ature  of  things,  raised  beaches  and  oesars  are  expected  to  occur  in  the 


•Since  the  washing  off  takes  place  grailuallv,  there  is  every  possibility  that  the  bluff  B,  b, 
was  once  lower,  and  that  there  weie  terraces  indicating  the  former  levels,  (m,  h,  o,)  as  in  section 
C.£,but  that  they  h&ve  been  washed  away. 


Doc.  No.  09* 


lOT 


I  mo- 
iverse 

43:) 
e  be- 
mlted 

than 

both 

three 
igiuto 
he  po- 
edom- 
Ti49,) 
to  ex- 
le  trap 
to  ac- 
play  of 

ch  laid 

ghout. 

proofs 

II  have 
(f  level 
acts  of 
1  to  call 
))ained. 
en  con- 
,  rising 
r  a  long' 
,  Lakes 
g  dryer 

eir  po- 
id  there 
at  case 
leaches 
ere  are 
It,  to  be 


lluffB.ft, 
In  section 


same  localitieif  it  must  be  left  to  the  sagacity  of  the  observer  to  determine 
in  each  case  to  which  class  they  belong.  Instances  of  both  have  been 
noticed,  at  numerous  points,  nlons;  the  shores  of  the  lower  lakes,  but  they 
are  less  frequent  ou  the  coast  o^  Lake  Superior,  although  not  entirely 
wanting. 

j.'4  v«    ■    >  .  •'• ';»^-A'4\tV>rt*?>- -.':•m«■•A•>rUi--•.V>■th.f^n- 


■\«»*'t:^J'^ 


'Jm 


:t^'  JW*-.»  V  ''^tr,>*»''  ■>*'■■■ 


^IV'\  hvW  Jiiit;  ^fib.li'1''  ■•*:<iir-M!)  ','!.,•,. I, T'^  !*■  .?!ln  r'  n<\'H  <*/B(rVrtv^-4  1'i 


.;»*!!  s(h  ■■•0  >n!iv»h  ;kIi  lit  J-- .       •  ■•i>  ,■^.'■\'^^■■(i'  "./.O')* 'to/r><u-iq«tl''  ij  ihjvA 
;f.*  ifiuij  .f>n«'-  ^  >5Pi  tfi  Ji  rlyi!rtf[iUt>vifini>  ;?>-).S' '  "•■'*  "t  •?'^'  '  '^1  tefirl-iwi  cn« 

ii{>iti';/  T-iro;  ••"♦urn  ('Ht  «ii;(.)ri«ti  <*»!   't,.'t  •'''i' »  Jiiolnhiir:',!     ''.;n,''T;r.ri'r     .jo»jt 


driw     ;'l)!i    .'-'.'U  Ml:! 


"■'  iiH.  ■.•i^.  b;u   ;uu.vjK  ftVWffWstHt  M 
\'^1  ut»  M»i»'i  V)  tjlv?';Mi  fwh  c.!  ri]i;w  mli  u  ri'  vi'li}*;?  --.■fr^jj  ^i-ltnld  j>utii*i^-4»i 


•1"?  i);  i;  jr.*',     t!'/;'f  M«nt  i AlJlM 


V«9,'i4sp.);,'«i:i' S'.ufjf.it.  a?'iv  v'^ft-v;*'.!  r* 

.'J^'iMk'b'it' ".'■';■■.»*  s^Jifo^'.'"?!'!!''.  fcfMi(tf»!«o'    'tor  f-ffi'')  ;'i-('j,«  )■;>  if*m« .  ii-isitr/r 

••ibi-i»  '♦di;ff:  ■:>!9i:(«o  ;   ^ ■  yj'-Jj.  :*:  .y-^  .^([jiUr'tiui.-  •■  J-'^-  UJ,^?ii*i.j(Aiiil  tJ''ls(v/ 
'  'Jwn?  i;:?'!v/  ^atf-A  <)ii'^*--  'Mu!  '>n{j;.'.  *p5ir  •?  >i»;^.  .in^ff  'Jriui  yiriitir.ljtxt'i'*  vw/ 


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vjU  hii 


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iSife.  i(b/(SS 


••.'•vfil  Mri*,J!<*(ioi  •m''>'''J 


:iA<<^.  iiiMJ:|l'i.()iIi! 


'<,'» 


y*!-.'*!! 


■Ji  ,1  jf-;  .»*tlr.;  ,->ni      CHAPTER  IX.    -  ''''■^  ui*  .^a:i><ti-''«i 


'V4 


:',.  SI 


< 


DRIPT — CONTINUED. 


Region  west  of,  Kevreennw  Point. —  Thickness  of  the.  drift. — Boidders. — 
Furrows. — Polished  rocks. — Keweenaw  Point. — Absence  of  drift. — Isle 
Royale,  drift  boulders. — Polishtd rocks. — Influence  of  the  waves. — Di- 
rection of  the  furrows. — Striee  occasioned  by  floating  ice. — Iron  region. — 
Terraces. — Height  at  which  the  drift  is  found. — Drift  of  the  sandstone 
regioti. — Of  the  sand  region. — Grand  Sable. —  Terraces. — D/ift  of 
the  St.  Mary's  river. — Mack'nac. — Conclusion. 

Drift  of  the  copper  region  west  of  Keweenaw  Point  — The  extremity 
of  Keweenaw  Point  is  almost  entirely  destitute  of  drifts  and,  for  a  lon^ 
distance  between  Copper  Harbor  and  Eagfe  river,  the  coast  is  lined  with 
trap  rocks,  sandstones,  and  conglomerates,  almost  without  any  covering  of 
loose  materials,  with  the  exception  of  some  dunes  near  Eagle  Harbor  and 
Eagle  river.  A  geologist  who  should  limit  himself  to  the  examination 
merely  of  this  portion  of  the  coast,  which  is  the  most  frequented,  might 
well  imagine  that  the  drift  deposite  plays  but  a  very  subordinate  part' in 
this  quarter.  This  impression,  however,  would  soon  vanish,  if  he  were  trt 
proceed  some  distance  on  either  side  of  the  point.  To  the  west  of  Eagle 
river,  the  coast  is  for  many  miles  low,  and  composed  of  sand  and  gravel 
belonging  to  the  alluvium  of  the  lake.  Beyond  the  Portage,  the  coast  be- 
gins agam  tc  vise,- forming  high  and  picturesque  cliffs  of  sandstone,  which, 
from  their  castle-likg  appearance,  have  been  designated  by  Messrs.  Foster 
and  Whitney  as  the  Red  Castles.  The  tops  of  these  cliffs  are  covered 
with  a  deposite  of  loose  materials,  composed  of  the  detritus  of  the  red 
sandstone,  which,  from  its  structure  and  the  absence  of  all  stratification,  I 
am  inclined  to  refer  to  the  coj^rse  drift,  (although  it  is  less  coarse  than  on 
the  cliffs  of  the  Pictured  Rocks,)  and  may  be  seen  passing  by  gradual  tran- 
sitions into  the  red  clay.  Its  average  thickness  does  not  exceed  twenty 
feet.  This  range  of  sandstone  cliffs  extends  for  somg  ten  miles,  after  which 
it  disappears  again ;  and  beyond  Elm  river  we  meet  for  the  first  time  with 
high  drift  bluffs,  rising  boldly  from  the  water  to  the  height  of  from  eighty 
to  one  hundred  feet.  These  bluffs  might  easily  be  mistaken  for  sandstone- 
cliffs,  from  their  color  and  steepness.  It  is  only  when  approaching  closer 
to  them  that  we  become  satisfied  as  to  their  real  nature.  The  succession 
of  the  strata  is  as  follows:  at  the  foot  of  the  cliff  is  seen  rising  from  the 
water  a  stratum  of  red  clay,  very  tough  and  sticky,  some  forty  feet  thick;, 
above  it  a  layer  of  sand  from  six  to  eight  feet  thick;  still  higher,  another 
stratum  of  clay  not  more  than  a  foot  thick;  and  covering  this,  a  mass  of 
sand  forty  feet  thick,  which  reaches  to  the  top.  Through  the  whole  mass 
of  the  sand,  as  well  as  of  the  clay,  may  be  seen  pebbles  of  ditferent  sizes; 
among  them  tYiose  of  limestone  are  by  no  means  rare — the  presence  of 
which  may  offer  at  first  a  difficulty,  since  there  are  nowhere  in  the  neigh- 
borhood limestone  stratri,  in  situ,  from  which  ihey  niight  have  been  de- 
rived. But  we  shall  see  afterwards  that  there  is  no  real  difficulty  in  the 
way  of  explaining  their  origin,  since  that  same  limestone  forms  wide  tracts  * 
of  country  beyond  the  northern  shores  of  Lake  Superior.    I  noticed  that 


Dioc.  rfq,  69, 


199 

these  limestone  pebbles  were  oftentimes  accumnlated  in  small  layers  near 
the  top  of  the  bluff  Among  them  were  many  fossils,  which  we  found  to 
belong,  without  exception,  to  the  Cliff  limestone.  Between  these  bluffs 
and  the  Ontonagon  river,  the  coast  is  for  the  most  part  low,  and  lined 
■«viith  shingle  beaches.  The  drift  appears  only  in  a  few  places  upon  some 
low  sandstone  cliffs.  My  own  observations  do  not  thus  far  extend  beyond 
the  Ontonagon ;  but,  according  to  Mr.  Whitney,  there  appear  again  drift 
bluffs  similar  to  those  just  described,  and  of  equal  height,,  between  Presqu'- 
isle  river,  and  Black  river — also,  between  the  latter  and  the  Montreal 
river.  In  both  places  they  agree  in  composition  and  structure  with  those 
first  described.  There  are,  besides,  high  drift  bluffs  to  be  seen  on 
several  of  the  Apostle  islands,  and  also  west  of  these  islands,  where  they 
a^e  sajd,  to  attain  in  $ome  places  a  height  from  4()0  to  6()0  feet.  Though 
the  whole  mass  is  generally  designated  as  clay,  yet  there  is  but  little  doubt 
that,  on  closer  examination,  there  may  be  found  also  layers  of  sand  above 
the  clay.  The  thickrtess  of  the  drift-strata  along  the  lake  shore,  including 
both  drift-clay,  gravel,  and  sand,  does  not,  however,  give  a  correct  idea 
of  its  extent  furtner  inland.  In  ascending  the  rivers  which  empty  into 
^he  lake,  we  generally  find  the  drift  mass  increasing  considerably  in  thick- 
ness^  T^'^'^'  ^^^  p'rample,  at  the  Cushman  locatitm,  on  the  Ontonagon, 
the  bluffs  of  drift  .ay  be  seen  rising  to  the  height  of  125  feet  above  the 
bed  of  t)ie  river.  I  noticed  that  thei'i  were  also  more  pebbles  and  boulders 
interspersed  through  the  mass,  and  the  distinction  between  sand  and  clay 
seemed  less  striking.  The  whole  mass  may,  in  some  places,  be  called  a 
sandy  loam,  and  seems  vo  indicate,  on  the  whole,  a  less  regular  and  auiet 
action.  It  is  seen  leaning  against  the  trap  ranges  on  which  the  Minne- 
sota location  is  situated,  and  the  upper  sandy  layers  may  even  be  traced 
almost  to  the  top  of  the  ridge. ,  The  annexed  section,  fig.  '4,  will  give 
an  approxinxate  idea  of  their  disposition  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Ontonagon. 

Fig.  44.  • 


(ft,  drift-sand  ;  </c,  drift-clay  ;  S,  Bandstone ;  T,  trap. 

The  Minnesota  trap  ridge  rises  like  an  island  from  the'surrounding  diift- 
plateau  arid  breaks  off  precipitously  to  the  south.  From  this  range,  the 
€ye  embraces  within  its  scope  the  great  longitudinal  valley  bounded  by 
the  granite  range  on  the  south  and  the  trap  range  on  the  north.  The 
whole  country  is  covered  with  drift  deposites,  through  which  the  different 
branches  of  the  Ontonagon  and  Sturgeon  have  cut  deep  ravines,  forniiug 
bluffs  which  are  still  higher  than  those  before  mentioned.  Pebbles  of  all 
sizes,  and  large  boulders  are  seen  scattered  through  the  mass,  and  among 
them  are  found  occasionally  some  of  native  copper.  The  limit  of  the  drilt 
to  the  south  Has  not  as  yet  been  accurately  ascertained.  It  reaches,  accord- 
ing to 'Mr.  Whitney,  as  far -as  the  sources  of  the  Ontonagon;  and,  since 
the  dividing  line  between  the  northern  and  southern  slope  is  not  very 
hrom.inent,  v»'c  may  well  suppose  that  it  spreads  in  an  uninterrupted  man- 
ner in  that  direction.  On  the  whole,  however,  the  distribution  of  the 
drift  west  of  Keweenaw  Point  is  not  so  irregular  as  might  appear  when 
seen  from  the  shore.     There  are  wide  tracts  of  coast  which  are  bordered 


E 


200  Doc.  No.  69.    . « 

bv  shingle  beaches,  and  sometimes  by  dunes;  but  these  are  only  on  the 
marghi ,  ariH  we  need  not  go  far  inland  to  find  the  drift-bluffs.  Even 
where  the  coast  is  rocky  and  destitute  of  any  kind  of  loose  materials — as, 
tor  example,  at  Copper  Harbor — this  want  of  drift  is  only  an  exception,  ap- 
plying merely  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  lake;  and  we  have  only  to 
cruss  the  first  ridge  to  find  it  again. 

Keweenaw  Point,  from  its  projecting  position,  is  exposed  to  the  most 
violent  action  of  the  gales  and  waves,  and  we  may  mdeed  easily  con- 
ceive of  its  shore  being  deprived  of  all  loose  materials.    Nor  is  it  the  only 

ace  where  this  occurs;  almost  all  the  projecting  points  west  of  it  are 
ikewiso  more  or  less  barren;  but  in  many  places  the  drift  bluffs  which 
line  the  intervening  bays  may  actually  be  seen  rising  behind  the  rocky 
promontories.  There  is  but  little  doubt  that,  if  the  country  were  cleared 
of  woods,  there  would  be  seen  along  the  whole  southern  coast  of  lake  Su- 
perior a  line  of  drift-bluffs,  in  some  places  approaching  close  to  the  lake, 
in  others  receding  more  or  less  from  it,  but  yet  forming  a  continuous  ter- 
race, more  or  less  elevated.  As  to  the  boulders  of  this  part  of  the  country, 
they  are  found  scattered  at  all  levels,  not  only  over  the  whole  surface  of 
the  drift  plateau,  but  also  over  the  different  trap  ridges,  where  the  drift- 
clay  and  sand  do  not  reach.  I  was  shown,  by  Mr.  Knapp,  a  boulder  of 
granite  uve  feet  long  and  two  feet  high,  resting  on  the  very  top  of  the 
highest  knob  of  the  Minnesota  trap  ridge.  This  boulder  has  preserved  its 
angular  shape,  being  hardly  worn  at  all.  There  is  every  probability  that 
boulders  are  likewise  found  on  the  highest  elevations  of  the  country,  and 
wntinue  without  interruption  from  one  slope  of  the  dividing  ridge  to  the 
other,  as  observed  in  several  places  further  to  the  east.  As  far  as  their 
muieralogical  composition  is  concerned,  most  of  the  boulders  belong  to  the 
igneous  rocks,  viz:  granite,  gneiss,  trap,  and  hornblende. 

Therd  is  but  little  doubt  that  in  this  poftion  of  the  country  they  are  for 
the  most  part,  if  not  exclusively,  derived  from  the  northern  shore  of  the 
l;i!;e,  since,  with  the  exception  of  some  trap  dikes,  there  are  »o  similar 
rocks  along  the  lake  west  of  Keweenaw  Point.  It  might  be  asked,  have 
they  not  been  derived  from  the  dividing  ridge  between  the  upper  peninsula 
and  Wisconsin,  since  we  know  that  granite  occurs  there?  But  this  would 
suppose  a  transportation  from  south  to  north, — an  analogy  not  observed  else- 
v/here.  The  absence  or  scarcity  of  sandstone  boulders  should  not  sur- 
prise us,  if  we  consider  that  this  rock  is  much  softer  and  more  easily  de- 
composed; its  debris  has  probably  been  ground  to  powder,  and  formed  the 
'cltnicnts  of  the  drift-sand  and  clay,  while  the  , trap  and  primitive  rocks 
have  furnished  the  boulders  and  pebbles. 

Glacial  furrows  and  scratches  are  very  scanty  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
I  have  noticed  them  only  in  one  locality,  viz:  on  the  road  from  Eagle 
rivf  »•  to  ihe  Cliff  mines;  they  are  on  trap  rock,  and  run  north  15°  east. 

Dn/i  phenomena  of  Isle  Itoyale. — One  of  the  most  prominent  features 
of  Isle  Royale,  which  camiot  fail  to  sU'ike  any  traveller  coming  from  the 
s.nuli  shore,  is  the  almost  total  absence  of  drift  deposites — the  shore  be- 
ing everywhere  composed  of  barren  rocks.  With  the  exception  of  some 
pntches  of  coarse  drill  which  are  said  to  occur.nearthe  western  extremity 
o(  the  island,  there  are  no  other  quarternary  deposites  to  be  seen,  if  we 
except  some  boulders  which  belong  partly  to  the  alluvium,  and  partly  to 

^! i..:/v         T   .•!    ,.     ....  u.t ; ....  .K.,  -II ; ii l u___...u:_ u 


IH 


ers  Which 


the  drift,     I  consider,  as  belonging  to  the  alluvium,  tliose  bou 

are  seen  in  several  |)laces  accumulated  near  the  water's  edge,  along  the 

southern  shore  of'the  island.    As  an  instance,  I  would  mention  tjiose 


as 

an 

\m 
Bo 


Doc.  No.  69. 


201 


are  for 
of  the 
similar 
,  have 
iiinsula 
would 
id  else- 
lot  sur- 
iily  de- 
led the 
rocks 

|>untry. 
Eagle 
tast. 
Datures 
>m  the 
|)re  be- 
some 
(revnity 
if  we 
btly  to 
\yhich 
[ig  the 
those 


which  occur  at  the  Siskawit  Company's  location,  a  few  miles  east  of 
Rock  ^  :  bor.  The  boulders  are  here  very  much  crowded,  so  as  to  cover 
alms*:  -tirely  the  ground  for  some  distance;  but  they  are  limited  to  the 
immec^wtte  vicinity  of  the  shore,  not  reaching  higher  than  twenty  feet. 
They  ace  of  moderate  size,  from  one  and  a  half  to  three  feet  in  diameter, 
generally  rounded  and  worn.  In  examining  more  closely  into  their  com- 
position, I  found  them  to  be  for  the  most  part  trap,  of  the  varieties  known 
as  sienitic,  amygdaloid,  and  varioloid,  with  some  few  conglomerate 
and  sandstone  blocks — all  of  which  occur  on  the  island  itself.  This, 
together  with  their  limitation  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  shore,  leads 
me  to  beUeve  that  they  belong,  like  those  of  the  Saut,  to  the  alluvium. 
Boulders  are  much  less  numerous  in  the  interior  qf  the  island ;  and  the 
opinion  was  even  entertained  by  some  that  they  were  entirely  wanting. 
In  crossing  the  island,  however,  along  the  first  tier  of  sections  in  range 
37, 1  succeeded  in  detecting  a  granite  boulder  in  the  vicinity  of.  Lake 
Desor,  between  the  second  and  third  ridge,  at  a  height  of  200  feet. 
Others  have  been  found  in  similar  positions  near  the  eastern  extremity  of 
the  island,  by  Mr.  Poster,  at  a  height  nearly  as  great.  Scanty  a*  they 
may  be,  they  afford,  nevertheless,  a  proof  that  the  same  agency  which 
scattered  the  boulders  over  the  slopes  and  terraces  of  the  south  shore 
had  also  operated  here;  and,  since  there  is  no  granite  to  be  found 
on  the  island  itself,  there  can  hardly  be  doubt  that  they  have  been 
derived,  like  the  granite  boulders  of  Keweenaw  Point,  from  the  Canadian 
shore,  where  it  occurs  in  great  quantities. 

Polished  and  scratched  surfaces. — If  drift  deposites  are  scanty  on  Isle 
Royale,  the  phenomenon  of  the  erratic  scratches  and  furrows  is  the  more 
apparent.  The  trap  ledges  being  hard,  the  markings  have  been  pror 
served  with  great  distinctness;  and  these  are  rendered  still  more  con- 
spicuous by  the  denudation  of  the  drift.  I  noticed  particularly  the  pol- 
ished appearance  of  the  rocks  along  the  eastern  portion  of  the  southern 
shore  of  the  island.  The  best  opportunity  for  a  detailed  examination  of 
the  glacial  phenomena,  however,  is  afforded  at  the  eastern  extremity  of 
the  island,  where  several  narrow  spits  or  promontories  project  into  the 
lake.  One  of  these  is  Scovill's  Point;  it  is  rather  narrow,  with  a  gentle 
slope  on  the  south  side,  whilst  the  northern  is  very  abrupt.  The  whole 
promontory  is  entirely  barren;  so  that  all  the  peculiarities  of  the  surface, 
with  its  gentle  swellinj^s  and  deep,  trough-like  depressions,  maybe  easily 
embraced  in  a  single  glance.  Mr.  Whitney  and  myself  were  struck  with 
the  close  resemblance  which  these  rounded  and  barran  spots  bore  to  some 


of  the 


higher 


portions  of  the  Alps:  as,  for  i nstt. nee,  near  the  Grimsel. 


There  is  hardly  a  sharp  angle  to  be  seen  on  the  whole  promontory,  ex- 
cept where  it  is  the  result  of  recent  disintegration.  The  trough-like  de- 
pressions are  just  as  smooth  as  the  knobs,  and  oftentimes  filled  with 
water,  in  which  I  collected  several  species  of  shells  and  a  small  fish — a 
species  of  stickel-back. 

The  glacial  furrows,  nlthough  greatly  worn,  wore  yet  easily  distin- 
guishable in  several  places  on  the  knobs,  as  well  as  in  the  troughs.  I 
found  their  direction  to  be  north  .50°  east.  Even  the  northern  side  of  the 
ptomontory  is  here,  in  spite  of  its  vertical  slope,  smoothed  and  polished, 
with  distinct  indications  of  strias,  showing  that  the  grooving  agency  has 
acied  on  both  slopes  at  once.  This  is  owing,  no  doubt,  to  the  circum- 
stance that  the  direction  of  Scovill's  Point  coincides  precisely  with  that  of 


in 


m 


Tktm.  m 


a 


the  stria,  w^iereby  both  side's  cahie  under  the  influence  of  the  furrowing 
aigbricy,  whilst  in  other  places  thbre  is  biU  one  side  which  has  been  acted 
it'pbri — the  other  (the  lea  side)  being  sheltered.  The  whole  northern 
snore  of  Isle  Royale  m$ybe  considered  as  one  continuous  le^  side,  in  refer- 
ence to  th6  furrowing  agency.  Indeed,  no  sooner  has  the  last  promontory 
of  the  island  been  turnied,  than  the  rounded  and  polished  appearance  ot 
the  rocks  disappars  entirely.  The  shore,  for  the  most  part,  presents 
nothing  but  high,  steep,  and  rough  walls  of  trap,  without  any  indication 
whiitevejf  of  a  glacial  agency,  except  on  some  of  the  isolated  islands} 
Whos6  sides  ^re  occasionally  smoothed,  but  only  on  iheir  southern  slope. 
Afttir  having  turned  the, western  extremity,  and  passed  Waahitigtort 
Hairbor,  we  meet  again  with  smooth  and  rounded  surfaces;  but,  from 
the  nature  of  the  rocks,  they' are  less  conspicuous.  The  shore  being  com- 
posed here  of  sandstone  and  conglomerate,  it  is  not  expected  that  they 
would  have  resisted  the  disintegrating  influence  of  the  atmosphere  as  well 
as  the  trap.  Yet  there  are  undoubted  traces  of.  glacial  action  even  on  the 
conglomerates,  whose  surfaces  appear  rounded  and  smoothed,  all  the 
pebbles  being  generally  reduced  to  the  saaie  level.  In  some  cases,  there 
may  also  be  seen  indications  of  furrows  on  the  sandstone,  and  even  on  t'^q 
conglomerate.  Further  east,  towards  Siskawit  bay,  wh(?rethe  sandsfae 
disappears  and  the  trap  again  sets  in,  (see  the  map  of  Isle  Royale  iu  TV'  .dsrs. 
Foster  &  Whitney's  report,)  the  scratches  and  furrows  resume  their 
distinctness.  Chippewa  harbor  deserves  in  this  respect  a  special  notice. 
It  appears,  at  first,  as  a  mere  notch  in  the  outer  trap  ridge,  its  back- 
ground being  limited  by  a  wall  of  highly  polished  surfaces  of  a  very  strir 
mg  appearance.  There  are  also  seen  in  several  places  distinct  marks  of 
strias  and  furrows,  which  sho\v  the  same  direction  as  those  described 
previously  at  Scovill's  Pftint;  namely,  north  50"  east.  The  most  promi- 
nent, however,  are  on  the  left  side,  immediately  at  the  enirance  to  the 
harbor,  where  there  may  be  seen  not  only  strias  and  furrows,  but  also 
powerful  excavations,  some  ten  feet  de°r.  and  from  twelve  to  fifteen  wide, 
extending  sometimes  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  feet  in  length.  There  are, 
besides,  in  the  background  of  the  harbor,  fine  instances  of  rocks,  polished, 
and  worn  by  the  mere  action  of  the  waves,  which  form  a  curious  contrast 
with  the  glacial  surfaces  above,  being  undulating  and  scooped  out  in  every 
possible  manner,  whilst  the  latter  are  remarkably  uniform.  The  develop- 
ment of  t!ie  furrows  and  strias  within  this  harbor  is  the  more  remarkable 
as  the  rocks  outside  show  not  the  least  indication^  of  similar  phenomena — 
the  ledges  along  ihe  coast  being,  on  the  contrary,  very  rough  and  broken. 
This  can  be  accounted  for  only  by  supposing  that  thcoc  rocks,  which 
are  now  so  broken  and  irregular,  were  once  just  as  perfectly  smoothed  and 
polished  as  those  within  the  harbqr;  but  that,  being  brittle,  and  expwsed  to 
the  most  violent  action  of  the  waves  and  galos,  they  have  been  destroyed; 
whilst  others,  being  more  sheltered,  have  retained  their  primitive  beauty'. 
There  may  also  be  seen  in  the  background  of  Chippewa  harbor  an  accu- 
mulation of  angular  boulders,  which  must  have  been  stranded  thereby 
ice  very  recently,  for  they  are  observed  heaped  up  around  large  trees,  which 
certainly  have  not  grown  in  this  condition.  Finally,  Isle  Royale  affords 
rnany  instances  of  strange  local  deviations  in  the  distribution  of  the  strieD. 
On  the  shores  of  Ackley  bay  1  found  on  the  trap  ledges,  strise  running  due 
east  and  west,  and  crossing  others  whose  direction  was  northeast  and 
-southwest,  and  others  again  running  soifth  75°  east.     1  noticed  further. 


!  furrowing 
been  acted 
8  northern 
ie,  in  refer- 
promontory 
pearance  ot 
•t,  presents 
{ iiidica'tipn 
ted  islands) 
Lhern  slope, 
rtTaahitigtoil 
;  but,  from 
being  com- 
i  that  they 
here  as  weU 
even  on  the 
led,  all  the 
cases,  there 
even  on  t'^e 
e  sand  st^  ad 
e  in  ^^  ^cssrs. 
esume  their 
3cial  notice. 
;e,  its  back- 
a  very  stri- 
ct rnarks  of 
le  described 
most  promi- 
auce  to  the 
ws,  but  also 
ifieen  wide, 
There  are, 
|ks,  polished 
)us  contrast 
|out  in  every 
'he  develop- 
remarkable 
lenomena — ■ 
ind  broken. 
;ks,  which 
loothed  and 
exp«sed  to 
li  destroyed; 
;ive  beaut/'. 
)or  an  accu- 
led  there  by 
jrees,  which 
lyale  affords 
if  the  strice. 
luiuii'.ig  due 
Irtheaat  and 
led  further, 


tik,"^^.  ^y 


201 


Fife.  45. 


that  all  the  striiffc,  although  very  distinct,  were  limited  to  a  narrow  space, 
not  exceedirig  two  feet  above  tie  surface  of  the  water,  aiid  not  reaching 
more  than  1^  feet  below,  whilst  ihe 
hdrreii  ledges  above,  althoqgh  rounded 
and  smoothed,  did  not  show  any  dis- 
tinct striae  or  furroWs.  I A  this  case 
we  may  w^ell  be  induced  to  ascribe 
their  origin  to  thie  action  of  the  ice 
driven  by  the  wind  on  the  shore, 
and  rubbing  against  the  rocks— some- 0 
times  in  one  direction,  sometimes  in 
another.    See  figure  45. 


'!!!.( .Tift  jrS'tt.,.,ixr 


The  question  may  be  asked,  how  it  happens  that,  being  situated  in  the 
middle  of  the  drift  region,  l!§le  Royale  afibrds  so  kw  traces  of  it?  I  will 
not  conceal  that  this  is  a  difficulty,  since,  although  the  island  is  very  hilly, 
y^t  the  ridges  nowhere  exceed  six  hundred  feet — a  height  at  which  drift 
sand  and  even  drift  clay  are  found  almost  everywhere  on  the  main  land. 
We  must  either  suppose  that  there  has  never  been  any  drift  on  the  island, 
or  else  th^t  it  once  existed  and  has  been  afterwards  removed .  The  first 
supposition  would  seem  the  most  natural,  were  it  not  for  the  few  erratic 
boulders  which  are  scattered  bVer  the  ridges,  and  which  in  this  case  would 
have  been  the  only  materials  that  the  drift  agency  dropped.  Now,  it  is 
difficult  to  conceive  how  boulders  should  be  isolated  iti  this  single  place, 
whilst  they  are  everywhere  else  connected.  Is  it  not  reasonable  to  sup- 
pose that  the  island  has  undergone  a  general  denudation,  whereby  all  the 
loose  materials  have  been  sWept  away,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  boul- 
ders which  remain  as  witnesses  of  the  glacial  agencies?  At  any  rate,  we 
ought  to  remetiiber  that  this  is  not  the  only  spot  where  such  absence  of 
drift  occurs.  The  extremity  of  Keweenaw  Point,  as  we  have  previously 
shown,  is  likewise  barren  of  drift  deposites;  and  here,  at  least,  the  sup- 
position of  a  subsequent  denudation  seems  to  be  beyond  all  doubt. 

Drift  deposites  east  of  Keweenaw  Point. — The  shor6  of  Lake  Superior 
^ast  bf  Keweenaw  Point  may  be  divided,  as  far  as  the  drift  is  concerned, 
into  three  distinct  regions,  in  each  of  which  it  assumes  a  peculiar 
character,  and  is  connected  with,  or  dependent  upon,  the  orographicat 
structure  of  the  countfy.     These  regions  are — 

1st.  The  granite  and  iron  region,  extending  from  the  Anse  to  the. 
mouth  of  Chocolate  -rfver. 

2d.  The  sandstone  n^gion,  extending  from  Chocolate  river  to  Grand 
Sable,  and  including  the  beautiful  cliffs  of  the  Pictured  Rocks. 

3d.  The  sand  region,  extending  from  Grand  Sable  to  the  Saut,  where 
no  otlfer  than  quarternary  formations  are  to  be  seen. 

Drift  of  the  granite  and  iron  region. — The  granite  region  near  the 
Anse,  and  the  adjoining  iron  region  back  of  Carp  river,  are  both  distin- 
guished by  their  hilly  character,  being  composed  of  a  succession  of  ridges 
running  from  JNE.  to  SW.,and  rising  to  higher  and  higher  levels  towards 
the  anticlinal  axis.  The  projecting  spits  and  promontories  are  generally  des- 
titute of  drift  deposites,  but  the  intervening  bays  are  lined  either  by 'a  drift 
terrace  orby  siliingle  beaches  of  alluvial  matei-ials.  That  portioii  of  the  lake- 
shore  between  Granite  Point  and  Chocolate  river  i^^  particularly  interesting. 
For  a  long  distance,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  Carp  river,  it  is  lined  by 
El  rather  low  terrace  of  drift,  rising  from  twelve  to  eighteen  feet  above  the 


m 


Doc.  No.  69^ 


water  and  composed  of  sand  and  gravel,  sometimes  distinctly  stratified, 
with  Specimens  of  cross-stratification,  and  sometimes  containing  a  great 
many  large  pebbles  and  boulders,  so  as  to  resemble  coarse  drift.  In  some 
places  to  the  west  of  Carp  river,  near  Worcester,  the  red  clay  is  also  to  be 
seen  cropping  out  from  the  base  of  the  trrrace,  where  its  presence  is 
usuallv  accompanied  by  numerous  springs.  In  the  rear  of  the  first  ter- 
race, there  is  found  another  much  higher,  rising  from  fifty  to  one  hundred 
.and  fifty  feet  above  the  level  of  the  lake.  The  latter  is  sometimes  close 
by  the  lower  terrace,  and  sometimes  it  is  separated  from  it  by  a  space  more 
or  less  remote.  ' 

The  figures  46,  47,  and  48 
will  show  the  relative  position  of 
the  two  terraces  at  three  differ- 
ent points,  between  Worcester 
and  the  mouth  of  Carp  river, 
within  the  distance  of  a  mile. 
As  to  its  structure,  the  upper 
terrace  seems  to  be  composed 
altogether  of  sand  finer  than 
that  of  the  lower  terrace,  and 
with  fewer  pebbles  and  bould- 
ers interspersed  through  it.  If 
we  now  ascend  the  upper  ter- 
race, in  order  to  explore  the 
country  inland,  along  one  of 
the  section  lines,  ^e  find  the 
following  features.  The  top  of 
the  terrace  is  a  plateau,  covered  . 
generally  with  fine  forests,  without  much  undergrowth— the  predominating 
trees  being  maples,  interspersed  with  large  hemlocks,  \lrhite  pines,  ana 
sometimes  birches  and  aspens.  This  plateau,  which  would  no  doubt 
aflford  an  eJo-ellent  soil  for  agriculture,  rises  with  a  slight  slope  towaids 
the  south,  till  we  reach  the  first  of  the  rocky  ridges  Vunniiig  Irom  NE.  to 
SW.  where  the  drift  thins  out;  the  summit  of  the  ridge  itself  being  gene- 
rally destitute  of  it,  while  boulders  and  furrows  are  of  frequent  occurrence. 
This,  however,  js  not  the  limit  of  the  drift  to  the  south,  for  it  appears 
again  beyond  the  ridge,  where  it  forms  either  another  plateaux,  if  the  next 
*ridge  is  at  some  distance,  or  fills  up  merely  a  valley^  if  the  two  ridges  are 
close  to  each  other.  A  succession  of  rocky  hills  and  drift  plateaus  er 
valleys  are  thus  to  be  traced  almost  to  the  highest  elevation  of  the  country — 
near  the  dividing  ridge,  each  following  plateau  or  valley  being  commonly 
at  a  higher  level  than  the  preceding. 

In  many  places,  the  drift  has  been  greatly  washed  off,  and  it  is  not  un- 
usual to  find  the  margin  of  the  upper  terraces  scoojied  out  in  deep  gullies, 
which  are  oftentimes  to  be  traced  for  a  great  distance  along  the  smallest 
rivulets.  These  gullies  are  very  striking  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mouth  of 
Carp  river,  where  they  reminded  me  of  similar  ones  in  the  detrital  de- 
positee of  Switzerland,  which  go  by  the  name  of  ''tiants  sauvages.^' 
They  afford  sometimes  an  excellent  opportunity  to  investigate  the  nature 
of  the  drift.  By  far  the  greater  portion  of  the  drift  deposite  here,  as  well 
as  along  ihe  shore,  is  composed  of  sand.  There  may  be  seen,  however, 
in  several  localities,  distinct  traces  of  clay — as,  for  instance,  near  Teal 


stratified, 
ng  a  great 
.  In  some 
also  to  be 
•resence  is 
5  first  ter- 
le  hundred 
imes  close 
;J)ace  more 

7,  and  48 
I  position  of 
hree  differ- 
Worcester 
Javp  river, 
of  a  mile. 
,  the  upper 
I  composed 
finer  than 
errace,  and 
and  bould- 
mgh  it.    If 
upper  ter- 
3xplore  the 
ong  one  of 
ve  find  the 
The  top  of 
au,  covered . 
dominating 
pines,  and 
1  no  doubt 
pe  towards 
rom  NE.  to 
)eing  gene- 
)ccurrence. 
r  it  appears 
if  the  next 
ridges  are 
)lateaus  er 
country — 
commonly 

is  not  un- 
^ep  gullies, 
\e  smallest 
mouth  of 

letrital  de- 

Ithe  nature 

|re,  as  well 

however, 

[near  Teal 


Doc.  No.  69. 


205 


lake.  Boulders  are  found  scattered  over  the  whole  surface  of  the  drift  de- 
posites,  as  well  as  on  the  ridges  deprived  of  it.  Some  granite  boulders 
have  been  observed  by  Mr.  Hill  even  on  the  summit  of  Silver  mountain, 
fourteen  miles  southwest  of  L'Anse,  at  the  height  of  one  thousand  feet 
above  the  lake.  Similar  ones  were  noticed  by  Mr.  Whitney  and  myself, 
inland  from  Uarp  river,  at  a  height  of  900  feet.  There  may  also  be  seen, 
on  the  drift  terraces  of  this  region,  indications  of  narrow  ridges,  composed 
of  gravel  and  pebbles,  similar  to  the  oesars  which  occur  along  the  coast 
of  Sweden.  One  striking  instance  of  such  cosars,  or  ridges,  may  be  seen 
on  the  road  leading  from  the  Jackson  landing  to  Teal  lake,  a  few  miles 
from  the  shore.  There  can  be  but  little  doubt  that,  if  the  country  was 
cleared  of  woods,  such  ridges  would  be  noticed  in  many  other  places,  for 
they  seem  to  accompany  the  drift  wherever  it  occurs  in  extensive  tracts. 
The  color  of  the  drift  (of  the  sand  as  well  as  of  the  clay)  is  that  same 
reddish-yellow  which  prevails  west  of  Keweenaw  Point,  over  the  whole 
of  the  copper  region.  There,  it  seems  natural  that  it  should  have  this 
color ,'for  it  rests  almost  everywhere  on  red  sandstone,  from  which  it  is 
supposed  to  have  been  derived.  Here,  in  the  iron  region,  on  the  con- 
trary, where  the  prevailing  rocks  are  black  slate,  dark  greenstone,  and 
ridges  of  iron  ore,  it  is  evident  .that  the  drift  cannoi  o\ve  its  origin  to  the 
decomposition  of  these  rocks,  for,  in  that  case,  it  would  necessarily  be 
black,  or  at  least  very  dark-colored.  There  is  no  other  rock  to  which  it 
can  be  referred;  but,  since  sandstone  occurs  here  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  lake  shore,  the  presence  of  red  drift  to  the  south  affords  additional 
evidence  that  not  only  the  boulders,  but  the  drift  sand  and  clay,  have 
been  transported  from  north  to  south. 

Polished  and groov-d  surfaces  of  the  granite  and  iron  region. — With 
the  exception  of  Isle  Royale,  the  phenomenon  of  the  polished  and  grooved 
siiifaces  is  nowhere  more  frequent  and  striking  than  in  the  granite  and 
iron  regions.  It  is  met  with  along  the  shore  wherever  a  rocky  spit  pro- 
jects into  the  lake,  and  in  the  interior  wherever  a  ridge  rises  above  the 
common  level  of  the  drift  plateau,  orVhere  the  drift  has  been  removed. 
This  frequency  is  owing  to  the  fact  that  most  of  the  rocks  of  that  region, 
and  especially  those  which  occupy  a  prominent  position,  are  very  hard, 
and,  tnerefore,  have  preserved  most  of  the  marks  which  have  been 
stamped  upon  them  by  the  so  called  erratic  agencies.  Indeed  the  rocks 
are  not  only  smoothed  and  polished  in  most  places  where  they  appear  at 
the  surface,  but  also  distinctly  grooved  and  scratched. 

Along  the  coast,  east  of  the  Anse,  scratches,  furrows,  and  grooves  may 
be  seen  in  several  localities.  According  to  Messrs.  Foster  tfc  Whitney, 
all  the  ledges  of  granite  and  hornblende  between  Granite  Point  and  Dead 
river  are  distincdy  smoothed  aiid  scratched.  An  island  im|^iediately  east 
of  Dead  river  is  especially  remarkable  in  this  respect.  The  rock,  which 
is  very  hard  and  tough  hornblende,  is  not  only  grooved  and  furrowed  ov-er 
its  whole  extent,  but  there  are,  besides,  deep,  trough-like  depressions,  with 
perfectly  smoothed  walls,  some  twelve  to  tilt'.jn  feet  long,  four  feet  wide, 
and  two  and  a  half  deep.  Mr.  Foster  observed  there  two  systems  of 
stria3 — one  running  north  and  south,  and  the  other  north  20°  east'  and 
south  20°  west,  the  latter  system  being  the  deepest  and  most  distinct. 
Similar  trougiis  were  observed  by  Mr.  Foster  on  Middle  island,  east  of 
Granite  Point.  Here,  too,  may  be  seen  troughs  four  feet  wide  and  two 
feet  deep,  running,'like  the  stricc,  north  20°  east. 


r 


m 


Poc.  No.  69. 


m 


The  localities,  however,  where  I  found  the  striae  the  most  distiact,  are 
the  promontories  and  islands  near  Worcester,  two  miles  west  of  the  mouth 
of  Carp  river.  The  rocks  are  a  very  tough  hornhlende  and  chlorite  slate, 
which  seem  well  fitted  to  preserve  even  the  finest  lines.  There  may  be 
seen,  near  the  mouth  of  a  rivulet,  several  ledges  whose  northern  slope 
is  covered  with  striae  as  distinct  a?  if  th^y  hfid  wen  engrayeid  but  yestei 

Indeed,  with  the  exception  of  some  localities  on  (he  btack  limestone  in 
the  Vinoasky  valley,  Vermont,  and  some  others  on  the  slates  in  the  fiord 
of  Christania,  (Norway,)  I  do  not  remember  having  ever  seen  glacial 
striae  so  distinct.  The  figure  49  represents  a  ledge  with  a  slope  of  from  10° 

to  20°  at  the  water's  edge,  where 
they  are  the  most  conspicuous. — 
There  are  two  distinct  sets  of  striae: 
those  running  north  55°  east  are  the 
most  numerous;  those  runriing  north 
5°  east  the  least.  The  latter  are  dis- 
tinctly feeen  crossing  the  others,  and 
are,  therefore,  more  recent.  Some  of 
them  are,  besides,  distinctly  curved, 
as  if  the  body  which  produced  them 

had  been  deflecte.d  in  ascending  the 

slope — a  peculiarity  not  yet  observed  elsewhere.  Both  sets  of  striae 
etxtend  here  but  a  lifile  way  below  the  water — generally  not'  deeper  than 
one  foot.  This  is  the.  most  eastern  point  where  stria?  occur  along  the 
shore,  and,  therefore,  the  first  which  conies  under  the  observation  ot 
geologists,  when  coasting  west.  'I  he  striae  and  furrows  are  not  l^ss  con- 
spicuous in  the  interior  of  tho  country,  and  may  be  traced  at  all  heights, 
and  on  all  kind  of  rocks,  in  the  neighborhood.  I  found  them  iSQO 
feet  high  oh  the  summit  of  the  quartz  ridge  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  Carp  river;  7.50  feet  on  the  iron  riclge  south  of  Teal  lake;  and  ap.high 
as  1,000  feet  on  a  greenstone  ridge  ijear  the  water-shed. 
'  Among  the  most  remarkable  are  the  striae  on  the  quartz,  if  we  consider 
the  very  great  hardness  of  the  rock;  and,  indeed,  with  the  exception  of 
some  quartz  veins  among  the  granite  of  the  Alps,  I  know  of  no  other 
localities  where  the  striae  may  be  traced  for  any  considerable  extent  on  this 
rock.  The  surfaces  of  these  quartz  hills  are  in  some  places  so  smooth 
as  to  glitter  like  mirrors  in  the  sun,  anii  may  thus  be  seen  from  far. 
The  rock  is  too  hard  to  allow  deep  furrows;  thegroovings  are,  therefore, 
merely  veiy  fine  stria?,  but  of  tuch  distinctness  that  one  would  think 
ihem  to  have  been  engraved  by  the  poit»t  of  a  diamond.  Their  direction 
on  the  nearest  quartz  ridge  is,  accordhig  to  Mr.  Whitney,  north  20°  east; 
but  on  the  second  ridge  (at  a  height  of»53l  feet)  I  found  their  direction  to 
vary  between  25°  and  30°.  No  geologist  can  look  at  striae  on  such-arock 
without  being  convinced  that  the  action  of  the  water  is  utterly  insuf- 
ficient to  produce  such  effects.'  The  same  inference  may  be  drawn  from 
th6  polish  and  striae  at  the  top  and  along  the  sides  of  a  very  remarkable  knob 
'' of  conglomerate-quartz  in  township  27,  range  25.  Notwithstanding  the 
variable  hardn,ess  of  the  pebbles  of  which  this  conglomerate  is  composed, 
the  striae  on  it  may  be  traced  in  an  iminterrupted  nianner  sometimes  for  a 
distance  of  several  feet,  passing  successively  over  a  pebble  of  granite,  of 
hornblende,  of  slate,  of  greenstone,  and  of  iron  ore.  Their  average  direction 


i' 


Doc.  No.  90. 


?0I 


istioct,  are 
the  mouth 
orite  slate, 
;re  may  be 
hero  slope 
but  yestet 

mestone  in 
in  the  fiord 
eeii  glacial 
of  from  10° 
Ige,  where 
ipicuous. — 
Its  of  striae: 
ea8tare  the 
iriing  north 
tter  are  dis- 
Qthers,  and 
it.   Some  of 
5tly  curved, 
duced  them 
cending  the 
ts  of  striae 
deeper  than 
ir  along  the 
servatiort  ot 
ot  l^ss  con- 
all  heights, 
them  i5Qp 
ate  vicinity 
,nd  as  high 

|we  consider 
ixception  of 
of  no  other 
|tent  on  this 
so  smooth 
|i  frorn  far. 
,  therefore, 
i^ould  think 
ir  direction 
;h20°  east; 
direction  to 
Isucharock 
terly  insuf- 
rawn  from 
kable  knob 
fanding  the 
composed, 
limes  for  a 
granite,  of 
;e  direction 


IS  north,  varying  from  50°  to  60°  east.  Striae  are  also  to  be  seen  on 
the  iron  ridges,  sometimes  on  almost  pure  iron  ore— as,  for  instance,  on  a 
ridge  along  the  road  leading  to  the  Jackson  location,  two  miles  souih  of 
Teal  lake.  ,  Their  direction,  as  far  as  we  could  ascertain  without  a 
compass,  (which  is  of  course  unreliable  here,)  is  north  50°  or  60°  east. 
Finally,  I  would  make  mention  of  a  green  magnesian  rock,  with  vertical 
walls,  to  the  east,  along  the  road  leading  from  the  Jackson  landing  to  Teal 
lake.  The  walls,  although  almost  semi  cylindrical,  are  covered  with  strite, 
which  may  be  traced  al  ng  the  surface,  like  hoops  around  a  gigantic  cask. 

This  is  an  important  instance,  since  it  goes  to 
show  that  ihe  striae  could  not  possibly  have  been 
made  by  an  iceberg,  or  a;ny  other  Body  floating 
in  the  water,  but  that  the  agency  must  have 
been  such  as  to  conform  to  the  direction  of  the 
rocky  wall. 

As  a  whole,  the  direction  of  the  striae  in  the 

several    localities    where   they    have   been    ob- 

:  served  within  the  granite  and  iron  region  are  as 

'follows:      ,'         :       '■'        ■  '  '  '    ■  '  '    ■■  ^"\ 


.ii--i- 


!  (IB 


direction. 

N.20°E. 

N.  20''  E. 
N. 55^  E. 

Secondefy 
.({irectto|^. 

n;   s. 

N.  5°  E. 

N.  20°E. 

"     .  '      '     '  "'   ■■ 

N.  50O  60°  E. 
N.  55°  E.      , 
N.  65°  E. 

,.:.■   t  :...,:■  ■ 

On  Middle  island,  east  of  Granite  Point     - 
On  an  island,  east  of  Dead  river    - 
At  Worcester  .  .  .  - 

On  the  first  quartz  ridge,  one  mile  from  the 
"  mouth  of  Carp  river       .  -  - 

On  the  quartzose  conglonaerate  knob,  town- 
ship 47,  range  25  -  -  - 
On  the  Iron  ridge  south  of  Teal  lake 
At  the  Jackson  Ibrge           .            -            - 

Although  there  is  considerable  variation  in  the  direction  of  the  striae  and 
furrows,  yet  we  cannot  fail  to  notice  that  they  all  run  ea.*(t  of  north, 
■wrhilst  we  have  thus  far  seen  none  running  west  of  north.  The  direc- 
tion northeast  and  southwest  seems  to  be  the  prevailing  one,  especially 
on  the  ridges  in  the  interior.  It  is  also,  as  we  have  seen,  the  prevailing 
one  on  Islq  Royale.  Along  the  shore  the  direction  seems  somewhat  more 
northerly,  (N.  20°  25°  east,)  corresponding  to  that  observed  on  Kewee- 
naw Point.  Finally,  where  two  sets  are  seen  crossing  each  other — as,  for 
instance  at  Middle  island — the  northerly  direction  has  thus  far  proved  to 
be  the  more  recent  one. 

Drift  of  the  sandstone  region  east  of  Keweenaw  Puint. — The  sandstone 
region  east  of  Keweenaw  Point  .extends  fi"orn  the  mouth  of  Chocolate 
river  to  Grand  Sable — more  than  sixty  miles — including  the  high  range  of 
the  Pictured  Rocks.    * 

From  Chocolate  river  to  Traine  river,  for  a  distance  of  twenty  five  miles, 
the  shore  is  bordered  with  low,  alluvial  deposites,  with  pebbly  beaches 
and  hillocks  of  blown  sand.  Three  small  rivers  empty  into  the  lake  along 


nver, 


this  coast,  pearly  at  equal  distances  from  each  other,  viz:  Fish 
Laughing-Fish  river,  (Riviere  du  poisson  qui  rit.)  and  Pebble  river,  (Riv- 
iere aux  galets.)  'I'he  rock  in  place  is  exposed  to  view  only  on  a  few  pro- 
montories; but  the  land  rises  considerably  in  the  rear,  and  there  is  every 


ijQ 


Doc.  No.  69. 


probability  that,  in  following  up  any  of  these  rivers,  the  drift  may  be  en* 
countered  at  no  great  distance.  ,  .'b*,  .1 

After  having  passed  Pebble  river,  the  sandstone  intfrsects  the  shore, 
forming  rather  low  bluffs,  covered  with  a  depsite  of  drift-loam  from  five 
to  ten  leet  thick.  Then  the  ground  rises  suddenly  to  the  height  of  nearly 
One  hundred  feet.  We  noticed  that  its  slope  was  covered  with  a  strange 
raixtuie  of  detrital  materials,  composed  of  huge  angular  fragments  of 
sandstone  and  of  rounded  granite  boulders,  giving  it  the  appearance  of  a 
vast  accumulation  of  very  coarse  drift.  Having  landed  tnere,  I  soon 
noticed  regular  sandstone  strata  beneath  the  detrital  covering,  and  satisfied 
myself  that  this  strange  mixture  was  owing  to  the  disintegration  of  a 
soft  layer  of  sandstone  near  the  top  of  the  cliff,  w.hich,  in  scaling  off,  had 
caused  the  layer  above  to  crumble  down,  together  with  tho»  deposite 
of  drift  which  caps  the  summit.  The  drift  at  the  top  of  the  cliff  attains 
here  a  thickness  of  twenty-five  feet,  and  is  remarkable  for  the  quantity 
of  large  boulders  which  it  contains.  Beyond  this  p<^int,  the  sandstone 
disappears  again  from  the  shore,  and  the  coast  is  lined  for  some  distance 
with  a  drift  terrace  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  feet  in  height,  in  every 
respect  similar  to  that  which  we  have  described  near  Carp  river. 

Traine*  bay,  which  follows  next,  is  lined  with  shingle  beaches  and 
dunes.  Having  ascended  Traine  river,  which  empties  into  this  bay, 
we  reached  the  drift  terrace,  after  having  threaded  the  innumerable  wind- 
ings of  its  channel,  through  a  low  and  swampy  plain,  at  a  distarice  of  only 
a  tew  miles  from  the  coast. 

The  terrace  averages  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  in  height,  and  is  com- 
posed of  a  reddish  sand,  with  many  pebbles  scattered  through  it  The 
same  drift-sand,  although  less  loamy,  prevails  also  arpund  Traine  lake, 
some  five  or  six  miles  inland,  above  the  mouth  of  the  river. 

Beyond  Traine  bay,  begins  the  range  of  the  Pictured  Rocks,  the  most* 
romantic  portion  of  the  southern  shore,  extending  some  ten  miles  from 
Grand  island  eastward.  Though  highly  attractive  on  account  of  its  scenery, 
this  region  is  less  important  in  reference  to  the  drift,  which  plays  here  but 
a  very  subordinate  part.  However,  .there  is  seen  at  the  top  of  the  high, 
towering  bluffs  a  stratum  of  loose  materials  from  ten  to  thirty  feet  in  thick- 
ness, composed  of  pebbles  and  boulders,  intermixed  with  loam  and  sand. 
I  consider  this  deposite,  like  that  formerly  described  as  occurring  on  the 
summit  of  the  Red  Castles,  as  belonging  to  the  coarse  drift.  The  most 
striking  feature  is  derived  from  its  structure,  being  composed  almost  ex- 
clusively of  fragments  detached  from  the  sandstone  ledges  beneath.        * 

Although  imbedded  in  a  kind  of  loam,  the  fragments  are  but  little 
worn,  whereby  they  differ  essei^tially  fiom  the  boulders  and  pebbles  im- 
bedded in  the  drift  clay.  After  a  careful^  examination  of  the  materials  in 
several  localities,  I  found  but  few  foreign  pebbles  among  them,  chjefly 
fragments  of  trap.  • 

There  are  some  few  places,  however,  where  a  stratum  of  drift-sand  may 
be  seen  covering  the  coarse  drift.  Such  an  instance  occurs  at  the  top  of 
the  Grand  Portal.  It  was  at  first  doubtful  whether  this  stratum,  which 
is  very  homogeneous,  had  not,  perhaps,  originated  from  blown^sand  from 
below ;  but,  on  closer  examination,  I  found  that  it  contained  a  certain  num- 
ber of  rounded  pebbles,  which  rendered  such  a  supposition  inadmissible. 

*  TVoine  is  an  antiquated  French  word,  still  in  use  an.o  ig  the  Cantxiliun  French,  for  tiaimau, 
a  eleigh.  We  heard  from  one  of  our  voyngeurs  that  there  had  been,  for  a  long  limr,  nn  old  tlcigh 
uiSr  the  mou^of  the  river:  hence  probably  its  name. 


u  m 


Doc.  No.  69. 


f09 


xy  be  en* 

he  shore, 
from  five 
of  nearly 
a  strange 
;ments  of 
ance  of  a 
5,  I  soon 
i  satisfied 
ition  of  a 
»  off,  had 
k  deposite 
iff  attains 
!  quantity 
sandstone 
le  distance 
in  every 

aches  and 
1  this  bay, 
able  wind- 
ice  of  only 

nd  is  com- 
[i  it  The 
aine  lake, 

the  most' 
(liles  from 
scenery, 
here  but 
the  high, 
in  thick- 
and  sand, 
ig  on  the 
he  most 
most  ex- 
ath. 

but  little 
bbles  im- 
perials in 
chjefly 


and  may 

the  top  of 

11,  which 

nd  from 

lain  num- 

[missible. 

ror  It  aineau, 
tn  old  sleigh 


The  average  thickness  of  this  sand  stratum,  at  the  top  of  the  Pictured 
Rocks,  does  not  exceed  ten  feet,  although  it  is  in  some  places  as  thick  a» 
thirty  feet, 

Along  the  whole  range  of  the  Pictured  Rocks,  there  are  but  two  locali* 
ties  where  the  high  wall  is  interrupted  Ob  as  to  afforct  a  safe  landing-place, 
viz:  at  Miaer^s  river  and  at  Chapel  river,  near  the  Grand  Portal.  The 
first  of  these  two  rivers  empties  into  the  lake  near  a  most  picturesque  pno- 
monlory,  which  Mr.  Whitney  calls  Miner's  Castle.  To  the  east  of  this 
promontory  extends,  for  the  distance  of  nearly  a  mile,  an  alluvial  plain, 
covered  with  ancient  beaches.  The  drift  appears  at  the  surface,  but  there 
is  little  doubt  that  it  may  be  found  along  the  banks  of  the  river.  A  con- 
siderable layer  of  drift  occurs  on  the  top  of  Miner's  Casde,  composed  of  a 
whitish  clay  filled  with  pebbles  and  fragments  of  the  underlying  rock. 

At  Chapel  river,  the  high  cliff  is  interrupted  for  the  space  of  half  a  mile, 
where  the  coast  is  lined  by  a  drift  terrace  some  thirty  feet  in  height,  being 
the  border  of  a  plateau  stretching  for  several  miles  inland,  and  covered 
with  pine  openings.  There,  I  had  a  fine  opportunity  of  examining 
the  relation  of  the  drift  to  the  surrounding  cliffs.  At  the  western  corner 
of  the  opening,  the  different  sandstone  strata  are  abruptly  broken,  some- 
times stair  like  «nd  soinettmes 
with  bold  projections.  There, 
I  saw  drift  not  only  cover- 
ing^he  lower  steps  of  this  gi- 
gantic stair-case,  but  filling, 
likewise,  the  space  between  the 
^-  projections,  as  shown  by  the 
following  diagram.  It  is  obvi- 
ous from  this  fact  that  the  clii& 
of  the  Pictured  Rocks  had  alrea* 
dy,  at  the  time  of  thedepoeitisn 
of  the  drift,  the  same  irreg'*lar 
and  broken  outlines  which  ren- 
i.  g.    drift-gravel,    s.    sar.d8lon«.  der  them  SO  COnspiouoUS  MOW. 

It  is  well  known  that  th«  top  of  the  Pictured  Rocks  is  not  a  mountain 
nor  a  ridge,  but  merely  the  margin  of  a  sandstone  plateau,  which  rises 
here  abruptly  to  the  height  of  nearly  200  feet.  Having  ascended  the  cliff,^ 
near  Miner's  river,  Ave  found  the  plateau  almost  level ;  yet,  most  of  the 
rivulets,  instead  of  emptying  into  the  lake,  run  southward,  s&  that  the 
water-shed  is  here  near  the  very  margin  •f  the  cliff.  Although  the  sur- 
face of  the  plateau  is  thickly  wooded  and  partly  covered  with  swamps 
even  at  its  highest  levels,  yet  wherever  the  soil  is  removed,  we  found  the 
underlying  rock  to  consist  of  sandstone,  and  it  soon  became  evident  to  me 
that  the  drift  plays  but  a  very  subordinate  part,  being  confiined  merely 
to  sogie  scattered  boulders  and  pebbles. 

No  glacial  furrows  and  groovings  have  been  observed  withia  this  district, 
which  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  if  we  consider  the  nature  of  the  prevail- 
ing rock,  being  soft,  and  easily  decomposable  sandstone. 

DRttT:  OP  THE   SAND   REGION. 

This  region,  the  most  important  as  iar  as  the  drift  is  concerned,  begins 
where  the  cliffs  of  the  Pictured  Rocks,  after  having  sunk  within  a  few  feet 


1 


itl 

id ! 

1 

210  Doc.  No.  69^ 

of  the  water's  edge,  are  sufldenly  replaced  by  a  hlgfi  ridge  of  lose  mnte- 
riaid,  (  Jled  the  Grand  Sable.  From  thence,  along  the  whole  length  of  the 
'•wast,  to  the  S.njt,  a  distance  of  nearly  one  hundred  miles,  there  is  no 
"T  formation  ffrnn  drift  and  alluvial  deposites  to  be  seen.  The  latter  is 
ih  ,//n«t  prominent;  bui  wherever  the  drift  comes  close  to  the  shore,  it  is 
generally  in  the  form  of  hit''  terraces,  with  abrupt  slopes^  exceeding  even 
the  highest  points  of  the  I'lctiiredKocks — e.  g.,  at  GrainJ  Hableand  Point 
Iroquois 

The  Cir"  "1  Sable,  from  its  peculiar  and  vcrv  striking  apy^nnce,  de- 
serves a  more  accuratr  'lescriptirfn.  The  traveller,  in  coasting  along  the 
beautiful  and  thickly- uooded  cliffs  of  the  Pictured  Rocks  towanls  the 
Sant,  after  having  seen  the  clifls  of  sandstone  gradually  descend  within  a 
few  feet  of  the  water,  is  suddenly  struck  by  the  appearance  of  a  high, 
naked  wall  rising  immediately  from  the  lake,  and  extending  for  many  mi'  ^ 
in  an  easterly  direction.     (See  diagram  62.) 

The  contrast  afforded  by  such  a  barren  tract  in  the  midst  of  th-!  ii-nf*^ 
forests  which  extend  all  around  is  in  itaelf  most  remarkable — tl .;  nioio  bt 
as  it  seems,  at  first,  to  be  nothing  but  a  gigantic  heap  of  I  jose  Mil.  In- 
deed, since  Schoolcraft  first  described  it  as  a  dune,  it  has  ^  ..  ..ily  been 
thus  represented  by  all  subsequent  writers.  Besides,  the  fact  that  the. 
cliffs  of  the  Pictured  Rocks  to  the  west  of  Grand  Sable  are  of  a  very  loos© 
and  easily  decomposable  sandstone,  seemed  to  jusiiiy  the  idea  that  this 
high  sandridge  might  be  nothing  but  the  detritus  of  decomposed  sand- 
stone strata,  heaped  up  by  the  power  of  the  northwest  winds,  which  are 
known  to  be  the  prevalent  ones  on  the  lake.  But  yet,  it  seemed  difficult 
to  conceive  that  sand  should  accumulate  to  the  height  of  366  feet  in 
that  single  spot,  whilst  at  other  places  along  the  shore — for  example,  at 
White  Fish  Point — the  dunes  should  not  reach  higher  than  from  forty  to 
fifty  feet,  though  the  wind's  are  equally  violent.  Even  along  the  seacoast, 
under  the  influence  oi"  tlie  oceanic  gales,  the  dunes  do  not  attain  so  great 
a  height;  for  liiose  of  Prov'iacctuwii,uii  Cape  Cod,  which  are  ceilainiy  ihe 
most  remarkable  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  do  not  exceed  eighty  feet. 
Having  landed  on  the  promontory  at  the  entrance  of  the  bay,  bordered 
by  the  high,  barren  ridge,  in  order  to  investigate  the  subject  more  closely, 
we  soon  discovered  along  the  partially  naked  cliffs  a  distinctly  marked 
line,  (a,)  which  was  found  to  be  the  upper  limit  of  the  red  clay.  (See 
figure  52.) 

Above  this  clay  was  a  mass  of  sand  with  in- 
dications of  horizontal  stratification,  which,  from 
its  appearance  as  \^ell  as  from  its  position,  we 
recognised  as  the   *  if'  'aovi. 
r       Takir)g  this  fr.cr  ■;•       ■    ndard,  '       jllowed 
the  clifl'towardt  'i o  .  "^i  '.i-  some  distance. and 
Avera  able  to  recognise  all  along,  the  samffrela- 
tive  jiosition  between  the  clay  and  san-i.    Thus, 
wc  asccrtamed  that  the  dune- like  appearance  is 
-^  owing  merely  to  an  external  covering  of  loose 
sand,  and  that  the  main  body  of  the  ridge  is 
made  up  of  drift  sand  and  clay,  the  latter  ap- 
. ,  ■vfi-.:.ry'v*^'^,.,  •>r.  pearing  at  the  surface  in  some  spots,  which  are 

lil,  m^^^S^Kf  Hl^safl.  '"dicated  by  occasional  clumps  of  dwarfish  trees. 

The  Messrs.  Whitney,  having  ascended  to  the 
top  of  the  sand  ridge  in  order  to  measure  it5 


Fig  52. 


v.  O. — Urilt  C'ay. 
D.  e Drift  sand. 


ISO  mnte- 
rth  of  the 
icre  is  no 
c latter  is 
lorR,  it  is 
ing  even 
md  Point 

v.w-c,  de- 
along  iho 
ovanls  the 
I  within  a 
f  a  high, 
lany  mi'jv. 

th<;  d"n»fl 
J  moio  s>». 
Mvl.    In- 
iUily  been 
t  that  the, 
very  loose 
I  that  this 
nsed  sand- 
which  are 
3d  dilFicult 
66  feet  in 
xample,  at 
im  forty  to 
I  seacoast, 
n  so  great 
iiuiuiy  ihe 
tighty  feet, 
bordered 
jre  closely, 
ly  marked 
ay.     (See 

with  in- 

lich,  from 

Isition,  we 

jUowed 
lance,  and 
^amf  rela- 
Thus, 
sarance  is 
of  loose 
ridge  is 
latter  ap- 
rhich  are 
ish  trees, 
hd  to  the 
tasure  its 


t)oc.  No.  69. 


211 


height,  fJnind  our  ^suspicion  entirely  confirmed,  for  they  discnvrrfid  at  the 
very  top,  layers  luid  tno-'ses  of  coarse  pobbles  resting  ujKin  tlie  saiui,  and 
scattered  through  it. 

These,  of  course,  rould  not  have  been  blown  up  from  Mow.  They 
found  the  surfHro  of  the  ri(l?e  very  irregular,  with  dee[>  hollows,  and  pr«- 
senting  to  the  :-.  th  a  steep  s;l(>pp,  similar  to  that  facintr  the  lake,  and 
equally  barren,  but  less  high,  being  only  fi^'Y  '^r  sixty  feet  Bey(»nH.  the 
surface  of  the  plateau  wa?  again  covered  with  froo8.  The  question  wi  I 
be  asked,  therefore,  how  it  happened  that  a  mere  ridge  shnuH  be  so  h 
ren,  whilst  along  the  shore  the  drift  is  covered  with  d^^nsf  forests.  The 
cause  of  this  peculiar  feature  lies,  no  doubt,  in  the  fii'  t  that  the  drift  is  hme 
very  loose  and  destitute  of  any  loamy  substance,  i/  by  any  caut-o  (wind* 
falls  or  heavy  rains)  the  vegetation  be  carried  away,  thu  sand  remains  ox- 
posed  to  the  wind,  and,  being  very  fine  and  dry,  it  is  gradually  blown  oil 
and  scattered  over  the  surrounding  country.  Uf  this  we  have  direct  proof 
in  the  isoL.ted  hillocks  covered  with  trees  which  indicate  the  former  U«vel 
of  the  plateau.  These  will  probably  after  a  while  also  yield  to  the  po\  ';r  of 
the  elements.  Meanwhile,  they  give  us  the  measure  of  the  amount  of  the 
materials  which  have  been  already  taken  off  from  the  summit  and  scat- 
tered over  the  surrounding  country. 

There  may  be  seen  in  many  places  along  the  si  pes  of  the  sand  ridge  of 
Grand  Sable  piirallel  lines — sometimes  horizontal,  omotirnes  bent  and  un- 
dulated— which  might  at  first  be  mistaken  for  lines  >f  stratification.  I  am 
rather  inclined,  however,  to  consider  them  as  ind  -ations  of  successive 
fallings  of  the  sand  coatings,  which  would  take  pla<  '  when  the  slope  bo- 
comes  too  great,  as  it  hapf)ens  with  the  snow  on  tlu  steep  slopes  of  the 
Alps.  Another  similarity  between  these  sand  slopes  and  the  snow  covered 
walls  of  the  high  mountains,  may  be  found  in  a  peculi  r  tinted  appearance 
resulting'from  the  falling  off  of  small  particles  in  the  sauje  direction. 

Finally,  there  may  be  seen  at  the  top  of  the  long  ridte  of  Grand  Sable, 
towards  the  eastern  extremity,  some  irregular  hilluoks,  nore  oi'  Ictis  an- 
gular, which  have  all  the  appearance  of  genuine  diiftes,  and  which  in  all 
probability  were  heaped  up  in  the  same  way.  Between  them  and  the 
tnie  dunes  there  is  only  this  difference,  that  the  sand  is  derived  from  a 
higher  spot,  instead  of  a  lower  one. 

Between  the  eastern  extremity  of  Grand  Sable  and  Two  hearted  river,  a 
distance  of  nearly  thirty  miles,  the  lake  shore  offers  but  li  tie  of  interest, 
being  composed  entirely  of  alluvium,  covered  and  capped  i  many  places 
with  dunes.  The  drift  terrace  appears  nowhere  on  the  co:  t,  but  is  gen- 
erally seen  lining  tlie  horizon  at  some  distance.  At  Two  1  ;arted  river  it 
approaches  the  shore  within  less  than  a  mile,  and  is  compose  1  of  the  same 
red  sand  as  further  west.     It  rises.here  to  the  heiglit  of  fifty  i-iet. 

At  a  distance  of  six  miles  east  of  Two-hearted  river,  ant  ther  smaller 
river  empties  into  the  lake,  known  as  Carp  river,  but,  to  avoid  <.onfusion,  it 
has  been  designated  on  the  map  as  Terrace  river. 

There,  the  drift  again  approaches  the  shore,  forming  a  succc.  jion  of  tc^r- 
races,  which  deserve  a  special  attention,  as  being  the  most  striki.  g  instance 
of  tf\is  peculiar  structure  along  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superi.  r. 

There  are,  in  some  places,  not  less  than  six  successive  terraces,  which, 
when  close  to  each  other  and  combined  with  the  beaches,  appear  from 
the  lake,  like  a  gigantic  stair-case  leading  to  the  drift  plateau  above,  rising 
to  the  average  height  of  nearly  one  hundred  feet — a  heiglit  corresponding 


m 


l\^ 


Doc.  No.  60. 


iC 


to  that  of  the  upper  terrace  of  Carp  river,  as  described  above.  Mr.  Whit- 
ney, who  measured  the  relative  height  and  position  of  the  terraces  at  a 
place  two  miles  east  of  Two-hearted  river,  found  the  following  succession: 

Height, 

1 .  Gravel  beaph           .           .           -  •  .  .  5  f^gj 

^      2.  Sand  beach  -           -           -           -  .  -  12       * 

3.  First  drift  terrace     .            .            .  ,  .  29 

4.  Second  drift  terrace  ...  -  46 

5.  Third  drift  tenace    -           -           -  -  .  75 

6.  Summit  of  plateau    -           -           .  .  -  94 

The  position  of  these  difl'erent  terraces,  as  well  as  their  relation  to  each 
other,  is  represented  in  natural  proportions  in  the  diagram  fig.  53. 

It  will  be  seen  that, 
although  the  distances  of 
the  four  upper  terraces  are 
variable,  yet  their  slopes 
are  rather  uni  form ,  being  on 
an  average  30°.  iThe  slopes 
"'of  the  two  lower  terraces 
"  are,  on  the  contrary,  much 
«less,  being  from  10°  to 
12° — a  circumstance  inti- 
mately connected  with  their 
origin,  for  they  are  true 
beaches,  having  been  actually  built  up  by  the  action  of  the  waves,  whilst 
the  dpper  ones  indicate  merely  the  denudating  action  which  the  drift  un- 
derwent— the  crumbling  down  of  the  sand  under  the  influence  of  the 
waves,  when  the  relative  level  of  the  lake  and  the  shore  was  different 
from  what  it  is  at  present. 

The  several  terraces  thus  indicate,  in  all  probability,  as  many  periods  of 
subsidence.  Since  the  steepness  of  a  slope  depends  chiefly  upon  the 
nature  of  the  materials  of  which  it  is  composed,  it  is  to  be  expected  that 
like  materials  will  present  a  uniformity  of  slope;  and  thus  it  is  that  the 
slopes  of  all  drift  terraces  are  so  constant.  This  constancy  fiirhishes 
in  itself  a  striking  feature  of  the  drift  terraces,  by  which  they  are  easily 
distinguished  from  mere  beaches. 

The  surface  of  the  terraces  is  nc'  always  level,  but  undulating,  and 
covered  with  ridges,  as  it  appears  from  the  above  section.  Some  of  these 
ridges — for  instance,  that  marked  0,  in  the  section — are  probably  ancient 
beaches. 

Indeed  it  is  easily  conceivable  that,  if  the  coast  of  Lake  Superior  were 
to  be  raised  some  thirty  or  forty  feet,  the  two  alluvial  terraces,  which 
are  now  close  to  the  water^  would  appear  in  the  same  manner  upon  the  new 
terrace,  whose  slope  would  soon  be  the  same  as  that  of  the  upper  ones. 

Beyond  Terrace  river,  the  drift  terraces  recede  suddenly  from  the  shore, 
and  are  not  again  seen  until  after  having  turned  White-Fish  Point,  we 
reach  the  bottom  of  Tequamenen  bay.  Thus,  the  whole  country  in  the 
vicinity  of  White-Fish  Point,  comprising  an  area  of  nearly  two  hundred 


Gnimro  mi  I  no      QTiri 


Av^  fir  x^i 


VA  .1.   \./U  IA«^»A1.AVAJV/AA 


A  4  T  \^X  « 


nothing  but  a  low,  alluvial  and  marshy  plain,  which  owes  its  origin  to  the 
action  of  the  prevailing  winds  and  currents. 


(( 
It 
(I 


Mr.  Whit- 
races  at  a 
iccession: 

Height. 

5fbet, 
12  «< 
29  " 
46 

75 
94 

on  to  each 
53. 

seen   that, 
istances  of 
terraces  are 
leir  slopes 
tn,beingon 
The  slopes 
rer  terraces 
lary,  much 
m    10°  to 
stance  inti- 
jd  with  their 
y  are   true 
ives,  whilst 
he  drift  un- 
mce  of  the 
as  different 

y  periods  of 
f  upon  the 
pected  that 
that  the 
fltfhishes 
y  are  efeisily 


lis 


.ating,  and 
me  of  these 
bly  ancient 

perioT  were 
ces,  which 
)on  the  new 
per  ones, 
the  shore, 
Point,  we 
ntry  in  the 
o  hundred 
in  river,  is 


rigin 


to  the 


Doc.  No.  69. 


21S 


Point  Iroquois  is,  as  we  have  stated  before,  a  high  ridge  rising  imme- 
diately from  the  water,  and,  in  all  probability,  composed  exclusively  bf 
drift  materials.  From  thence,  the  drift  terrace  is  seen  skirting  the  shore 
along  Waiska's  bay  as  far  as  the  Saut,  where  the  Potsdam  sandstone  appears 
agani  below  the  drift  deposites.  There  are,  besides,  in  Tequamenen  bay, 
several  islands,  which  seem  to  be  composed'entirelyof  drift,  con taitiing  a 
great  many  rounded  boulders  and  p^b^bles,  from  which  have  beien  derived 
Sie  stones  used  in  the  construction  of  the  light-house  at  White-Pish  Point. 
Iroquois  island,  opposite  the  point  of  the  same  nanle,  is  made  up  of  like 
materials.  Here  I  noticed  that  a  great  proportion  of  the  boulders  and 
pebbles  were  of  sandstone,  which  leads  me  to  believe  that  this  rock  must 
be  in  place  somewhere  in  the  neighborhood. 

Dnft  deposites  cdong-  the  St.  Man/s  river. — The  sam6  drift  terrace 
which  we  havie  described  as  skirting  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Superior 
is  hiere  seem.  At  the  Saut,  it  attains  a  height  of  nearly  100  feet,  and  is 
separated  from  the  river  by  a  level  and  swampy  plain,  destitute  of  any  det- 
rital  materials  except  boulders,  which  repOBe  on  the  sandstone.  The  ter- 
race can  be  traced  eastward — sometimes  in  the  form  of  a  regular  plateau, 
flhd  sometimes  in  that  of  irregular  ridges — until  lost  sight  of  beyond  the 
Neebish  rapids.  A  corresponding  one  is  observed  on  the  British'  side, 
but  of  more  limited  extent,  separated  from  the  river  by  a  similar  plain, 
and  bounded  on  the  other  hand  by  a  chain  of  elevated  hills. 

The  phenoinena  of  the  glacial  furrows  are  very  marked  in  many  places 
along  the  St.  Mary's  river.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  Neebish,  the  rocks  are 
smooth  and  rounded,  as  though  polished  artificially,  and  glitter  in  the  sun 
like  the  finest  polished  surfaces  of  the  Alps.  The  general  direction  of 
the  grooves  is  N.  and  S.,  and  the  rocks  exhibit  a  lea  and  strike  side. 

Along  the  Straits  of  Mackinac  the  drift  is  rarely  seen;  but  on  the 
higher  points  of  land,  limited  patches  are  observed.  Its  position  on  the 
island  of  Mackinac  is  particularly  interesting,  where  it  is  restricted  to  the 
summit,  forming  a  stratum  100  feet  thick. 

Accustomed  to  observe  the  drift  occupying  only  the  lowest  depressions, 
its  position  here  at  Once  arrests  the  attention.  The  following  diagram 
illustrates  its  relation  to  the  older  rocks  and  to  the  alluvial  terraces: 

Pig.  54.  Like  the  drift  at  the  Saut,  it 

consists  of  loamy  sand,  with- 
j^  out  any  distinct  sUratification, 

^„  ,^    _^^^  ■  intermixed  in  places  with  con- 

'^i^^^^^^^^-^ckA  siderable  clay. 

ZZl  "!^?N  Coming  from  the  lower  lakes 

1  "^^^~.  UrT.!^^  for  the  first  time,  where  the 

clays  are  buff  and  blue,  the 

geologist  is  in  doubt  as  to  the 

a.  Alluvial.  d.  Drift.  I.  Limestone.  real  position  of  thcse  patches; 
but,  after  having  visited  Lake  Superior  and  examined  the  drift  accumula- 
tions, he  has  no  doubt  whatever.  To  Mr.  Whittlesey  belongs  the  credit  of 
having  first  suggested  the  identity  of  the  two  deposites.  As  this  clay  is 
traced  southerly  along  the  shores  of  Lal^e  Michigan,  it  is  found  gradually 
passing  into  the  blue  clay  of  the  west.  Thus,  the  island  of  Mackinac,  with 
Its  sununits  covered  with  drift,  constitutes  a  most  important  link  in  the 
chain  of  evidence  to  identify  remote  deposites,  as  belonging  to  a  common 


J. 


m 


Doc.  No.  6^ 


epoch.     We  are  thus  enabled  to  connect  the  drift  deposifes  of  Lake 
Superior  with  those  wliich  form  the  plateaux  of  Wisconsin  and  Illinois. 
.    The  boulders  on  tlie  island,  which  are  numerous,  rest  upon,  or  are 
imbedded  in,  the  drift.     From  their  external  characters,  it  is  inferred  that 
they  were  derived  from  the  northerp  shore  of  Lake  Superior. 

We  can  account  for  the  peculiar  position  of  the  drift  here,  and  its  ab- 
sence on  Round  island  and  Bois  Blanc,  only  by  supposing  that  it  has 
been  removed  by  denudation. 

The  topographical  engineers  inform  me  that  it  is  to  be  found  on  the 
high  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  Point  St.  Ignace.  Hence,  we  infer  that 
at  one  time  it  was  spread  over  the  entire  area,  and  that  a  general  denu- 
dation has  taken  place  to  the  height  of  nearly  200  feet. 

This  denudating  process,  however,  did  not  limit  itself  to  the  removal 
of  tlie  drift  materials.  The  island  affords  evident  proofs  that  the  more 
ancient  rocks  have  not  escaped.  That  curious  and  picturesque  rock 
known  as  the  Sugar  Loaf,  which  rises  like  a  pyramid,  to  the  height  of 
ninety  feet,  from  the  surroundii)^  plain,  remains  a  monument  of  the  ancient 
water-level. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  denudation  is  to  be  ascribed  to  power- 
ful currents  of  water,  at  a  time  when  the  general  level  of  the  country 
was  different  from  what  we  now  behold  it.  That  these  currents  were 
long-continued,  is  proved  by  the  many  alluvial  terraces  which  encompass 
the  island,  of  which  we  shall  treat  hereafter.  No  glacial  furrows  have 
been  observed  on  the  island,  or  along  the  straitsj  but  there  is  little  doubt 
that  such  markings  might  be  traced  on  the  rocks,  if  the  superficial  mate- 
rials were  removed.  The  soft  porous  limestone  which  here  prevails,  is 
ill  adapted  to  retain  such  markings  for  any  great  length  of  time,  when  ex- 
posed to  the  influence  of  atmospheric  agencies.  , 


CONCLUSION. 


• ' .  J  ^ 


It  is  not  intended  Iiere  to  give  a  general  theory  of  the  causes  and  origin 
of  the  drift,  since  it  would  oblige  us  to  allude  to  many  phenomena  for- 
eign to  the  district  under  consideration,  and  to  discuss  the  many  systems 
which  have  been  proposed  by  various  authors  to  solve  this  great  problem. 
I  shall,  therefore,  limit  myself,  for  the  time,  to  a  brief  sketch  of  the  prin- 
cipal periods  which  may  be  recognised  among  the  drift  deposites  of  Lake 
Superior.  A  mere  glance  at  the  relative  position  and  structure  of  the  drift 
deposites,  as  described  in  the  foregoing  pages,  will  suffice  to  prove  that 
the  phenomena  neither  indicate  a  paroxysmal  agenoy,  nor  the  operalion  of 
a  single  cause,  however  long  continued.  They  disclose  a  long  series  of 
events,  which  have  resulted  fVom  causes  highly  diversified,  and  as  yet  but 
imperfectly  known.  W^e  recognise  the  following  periods  in  the  history  of 
the  drift  of  Lake  Superior: 

1.  The  period  of  the  grooving  and  polishing  of  the  rocks  must  be  con- 
sidered as  the  dawning  of  the  drift  epoch.  At  the  close  of  the  tertiary 
era,  (which  has  left  traces  of  its  presence  over  many  of  the  States  border- 
ing on  the  Atlantic,  as  far  north  as  the  island  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  in 
Massachusetts,)  the  whole  northern  portion  of  the  continent  was  subject- 
ed to  the  operalion  of  a  general  and  most  powerful  agency,  of  which 
there  is  no  precedent  in  the  history  of  former  geological  ages.    There  may 


Poi,  Nt).  69. 


215 


es  of  Lake 
1  Illiaois. 
pon,  or  are 
nferred  that 

and  its  ab- 
that  it  has 

und  on  th» 
e  infer  that 
neral  denu- 

;he  removal 
It  the  more 
resque  rock 
tie  height  of 
r  the  ancieni 

3d  to  power- 
the  country 
irrents  were 
1  encompass 
irrows  have 
little  doubt 
rficial  mate- 
I  prevails,  is 
e,  when  ex- 


^s  and  origin 

lomena  for- 

my  systems 

jat  problem. 

I  of  the  prin- 

tes  of  Lake 

of  the  drift 

prove  that 

tperalion  of 

[ng  series  of 

~  as  yet  but 

history  of 

lust  be  con- 
the  tertiary 
iites  border- 
jneyard,  in 
|as  subject- 
of  which 
iThere  may 


be  found  in  every  sedimentary  formation,  depositea  similaf  in  their  compo- 
sition to  those  of  the  drift,  but  the  rocks  on  which  they  rest  are  nowhere 
characterized  by  those  peculiar  markings  which  we  have  described  as  gla- 
cial furrows  and  striie.     In  the  region  of  Lake  Superior,  they  are  found  at 
all  levels— over  plains,  and  on  the  slopes  of  the  hills  and  mountains.    Even 
the  dividing  ridge  between  the  upper  peninsula  and  Wisconsin  exhibits 
traces  of  their  action.     It  is  proved  that  here,  as  well  as  in  Europe,  their 
main  direction  has  been  from  north  to  south — being,  however,  sometimesde- 
flected  either  to  the  east  or  to  the  west.    These  deflections  are,  no  doubt,  de- 
pendent upon  the  leading  physical  features  of  the  coimtry .   Along  the  south 
shore  of  Lake  Superior  we  have  found  them  running  mostly  from  north- 
east to  northwest,  a  direction  parallel  with  that  of  the  principal  ridges— as, 
for  instance,  those  of  Isle  Royale  and  Keweenaw  Point.     These  coinci- 
derices  would  be  still  further  strengthened,  if  it  could  be  ascertained  by  a 
series  of  soundings  across  the  lake,  that  the  main  troughs  ran  in  the 
same  direction.   We  know,  in  the  actual  operations  of  nature,  of  no  agent 
capable  of  producing  such  a  gigantic  resuk  as  the  shaving  and  smoothing 
of  a  whole  continent.    To  those  who  are  familiar  with  the  effects  produced 
by  glaciers  upon  the  walls  and  bottoms  of  the  valleys  through  which  they 
move,  it  cannot  be  denied  that  they  exhibit  the  closest  analogy  to  the 
phenomena  which  we  have  been  describing.      The  appearance  of  the 
rocks,  as  well  as  the  form  and  size  of  the  striae,  is  the  same;  yet  it  must 
be  remembered  that,  in  our  days,  glaciers  occur  chiefly  in  the  valleys  of 
the  highest  mountain  chains.      It  is,  therefore,  difficult  to  conceive  how 
they  could  exist  and  move  in  a  wide  and  level  country,  like  the  northern 
parts  of  the  United  States  and  Canada.     In  order  to  avoid  this  difliculty, 
It  has  been  assumed  that  the  whole  northern  hemisphere,  as  far  as  erratic 
phenomena  ntaoh,  was  once  covered  with  a  general  cap  of  ice,  similar  to 
tliat  of  the  circum  polar  region,  which,  in  its  southerly  progression,  is  sup- 
posed to  have  at  once  smooihed  the  rocks  and  transported  the  boulders  from 
north  to  south.*  A  careful  examination  ofthepositionofthe  boulders,  which 
1  have  found,  both  in  this  country  and  northern  Europe  resting  mostly  on 
stratified  deposites  of  sand  or  clay,  has  convinced  me  that  the  above  as- 
sumption is  no  longer  admissible,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  the  transportation 
of  the  boulders.     The  remaining  question  relates  to  the  grooving  and 
polishing  of  the  surface  rocks.     However  inclined  I  may  be,  from  personal 
observatwn  of  the  glacial  phenomena  both  in  the  Alps  and  Scandinavia, 
to  refer  the  grooviugs  to  this  agency,  according  to  M.  de  Charpentier's 
theory,  (which  is  also  advocated  by  M.  Agassiz,)  I  shall  refrain  from  enter- 
ing into  any  discussion  of  the  subject,  for  the  reason  that  the  laws  which 
regulate  the  motion  of  the  polar  ice  are  as  yet  too  little  known  to  be  made 
the  basis  of  geological  speculation  in  a  report  like  this,  the  object  of  which 
is  to  state  facts  and  give  particular  information.     Whatever  may  have  been 
the  cause  of  the  grooviugs,  it  must  be  admitted  that  an  agency  which  was 
capable  of  shaving  off  and  wearing  down  such  an  extent  of  surface  must 
also  have  been  able  to  remove  the  detritus  and  to  transport  it  from  one 
place  to  another.  I  am  inclined,  therefore,  to  ascribe  to  this  agency,  and  to 
consider  as  contemporaneous  with  it,  that  portion  of  drift  materials  which 

•As  to  the  (iitTieiilsy  iirisiiig  from  the  ciiaiate,  I  would  remurk  tliat  it  has  been  most  ingeniously 
ahown,  in  a  recent  paper  by  M.  L^icrg,  that  if  pi)lar  glaciers  have  ever  existed  in  these  lati- 
tudes, it  was  possible  only  with  a  higher  temperature. 


J,f 


i, 

W' 

11' : 

^1 

916 


0be.  No.  69, 


I  have  described  as  coarse  drift,  and  which,  Tdierever  it  estists,  is  regu- 
laTly  found  at  t^e  hase  of  the  stratified  deposites,  having  been  left  unais< 
turbed  by  the  waters  of  the  subsequent  period. 

2.  We  have  shown  that  almost  everywhere  along  the  southern  shore  of 
Lake  Superior  there  is  a  stratum  of  red  clay  resting  on  the  coarse  drift,  or, 
where  this  is  removed,  on  the  polisherd  rocks.  Fropi  its  thickness  and 
the  comminuted  state  of  the  materials,  we  infer  that  during  its  deposition 
a  long  interval  of  time  elapsed,  characterized  by  no  violent  agitations. 
With  this  stratum  begins  the  second  era  of  the  drift.  If  it  should  be 
proved  that  the  continent  stood,  during  the  preceding  period,  at  a  higher 
level  than  now,  as  some  phenomena  seem  to  indicate,  this  circumstance 
would  afford  additional  evidence  ifn  favor  of  the  separation  of  the  two 
periods,  since  it  would  imply  a  subsidence  of  the  continent,  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  deposition  of  the  clay,  by  which  the  shores  of  the  lake  were 
brought  within  the  leach  of  the  waters  to  the  height  of  the  surface  of  the 
red  clay.  Admitting  this,  we  must  suppose  that  the  former  detritus  was 
to  a  great  extent  swept  away,  ihd  deposited  in  a  more  quiet  manner. 

As  to  the  boulders  distributed  through  it,  we  may  suppose  that  they  were 
transported  by  floating  ice,  in  the  same  manner  as  their  transport  is  atthis 
day  effected  every  sprmg  from  the  borders  ef  the  northern  lakes  and  rivers, 
lind  dispersed  over  the  adjacent  swamps  and  low  lands. 

The  question  recurs  as  to  the  nature  of  the  waters — whether  they  were 
salt  orfresh.  Considering  the  vast  area  over  which  the  clay  is  spread — it 
being  traceable  not  only  along  Lake  Superior,  but  also  along  the  St.  Mary's 
river  to  Mackinac,  and  thence  along  Lake  Michigan  to  the  prairies  of 
Illinois — it  would  seem  to  have  constituted  a  part  of  the  ancient  bed  of  the 
ocean.  It  should,  however,  be  remembered  that  we  have,  in  former  geo- 
logical epochs,  fresh-water  formations  extending  over  ctrtisiderable  areas, 
particularly  during  tertiary  and  carboniferous  eras. 

At  any  rate,  the  question  must  remain  doubtful,  as  long  as  we  have  no 
evidence  of  fossil  remains.  Thus  far,  I  know  of  no  type  of  animal  or  ve- 
getable life  having  ever  been  found  in  the  clay  of  Lake  Stiperior. 

3.  We  have  found  everywhere  resting  upon  the  clay  of  Lake  Superior 
a  stratum  of  gravel  and  sand,  which,  notwithstanding  its  irregular  struc- 
ture, is  a  real  stratified  deposite  and  must  therefore  be  supposed  to  have 
been  formed  in  water.  Occurring  at  still  higher  levels  than  the  drift  clay, 
and  attaining  sometimes  a  thickness  of  several  hundred  feet,  we  must 
suppose  that  at  the  time  of  its  deposition  the  country  had  subsided  to  a 
still  lower  level.  Prom  the  diversity  of  its  stratification  we  inter  that  this 
period  was  characterized  by  intervals  of  agitation  and  repose.  According 
to  Mr.  H.  D.  Rogers's  ingenious  theory,  this  feature  should  be  ascribed  to 
the  temporary  operation  of  earthquake  waves,  such  as  are  known  to 
occur  occasionally  in  our  days,  especially  in  the  Pacific.  Such  waves 
might  well  have  disturbed  the  bottom  of  the  ocean,  carrying  before  them 
an  immense  freight  of  deiriial  materials,  which  were  heaped  up  in  irregu- 
lar masses  and  hills,  resembling  the  drift  accumulations.  If  we  suppose 
similar  disturbances  to  have  been  of  frequent  occurrence,  they 'might  well 
account  for  the  absence  of  all  organic  remains  at  that  epoch. 

I  consider,  as  belonging  to  the  close  of  this  period,  the  transportation  of 
tliose  huge  boulders  which  are  scattered  in  such  vast  profusion  over  the  sur- 
face of  the  gravel  deposites,  and  which  we  have  detected  on  the  very  sum- 
Ciits  01  the  anticlinal  axis,  where  no  other  drift  deposites  occur.     It  might 


5,  IS  regTi- 
left  undis- 

• 

m  shore  of 
e  drift,  or, 
kness  and 
deposition 
agitations, 
should  be 
sit  a  higher 
cu  instance 
►f  the  two 
the  begin- 
!  lake  were 
rfaceofthe 
etritus  was 
anner. 
t  they  were 
)rt  is  atthis 
and  rivers, 

r  they  were 
I  spread — it 
1  St.  Mary's 
prairies  of 
t  bed  of  the 
tortner  geo- 
able  areas, 

re  have  no 
limal  or  ve- 
5r. 

te  Strperior 
rtUar  struc- 
ted  to  have 
drift  clay, 
we  must 
sided  to  a 
thar,  this 
I  According 
iscribed  to 
I  known  to 
ich  wave© 
jfore  them 
in  irregu- 
^e  suppose 
light  well 

)rtation  of 
ler  the  sur- 
|very  sum- 
It  might 


Dm.  Ho.  ^ 


2if 


thus  appear,  at  first  fhat  t!his  epo*hhad  been  characterized  by  tnore  violent 
agitations  than  the  preceding  one.  We  should  be  carefqjl,  however,  not 
U>  judge  of  the  power  and  violence  of  an  agency  merely  from  the  size  of  • 
tile  materials  transported;  for,  if  the  boulders  had  been  conveyed  by  pow- 
erflil  currents,  we  should  not  only  find  them  of  diminished  size  in  theiir 
progress  southward,  but  also  rounded  and  smoothed  like  the  smaller  peb- 
Dies.  On  the  contrary,  we  know  that  they  are  just  as  massive  at  the  very 
limits  of  thedrift  in  Ohio,  as  near  their  birth-pilace}  besides,  many  of  them 
along  the  anticlinal  axis  are  perched,  as  it  were,  on  the  very  top  of  ndt- 
low  hills  and  knobs,  where  it  is  hardly  admissible  that  they  should  ever 
have  been  left  by  a  violent  agency.  Finally,  many  of  them,  in  spite  of  con- 
tradictory assertions,  have  rather  shar{)  angles,  as  if  they  had  been  subjected 
to  slight  attrition.  I  am  therefore  inclined  to  suppose  that  the  surface 
boulders,  like  many  of  those  buried  in  the  drift-clay  and  sand,  have  been 
transported  by  floating  ice,  (not  icebergs.)  By  this  hypothesis,  tlieir  posi- 
tion on  the  summit  of  the*hills  offers  no  longer  any  difficulty ;  for  it  is  nat- 
ural to  suppose  that  they  should  have  been  stranded  upon  those  points, 
which  at  the  time  were  shoals.  The  changes  of  level  w^hich  the  region 
of  Lake  Superior  has  undergone  during  the  drift  epoch  are  represented  in 
the  following  diagram.  Assuming  that, during  the  period  of  the  groovings, 

the  waters  stood  nearly  at  the 
'^^'  ^'  same  level  as   now,  the  land 

must  have  sunk  during  the  sec- 
ond period  to  the  depth  of  five 
hundred  feet,  and  agam  the  same 
amount  during  the  third  period, 
when  they  reached  thosie  sum- 
mits, which  are  now  one  thou- 
sand feet  above  the  lake. 
The  boulders  of  Lake  Superior,  like  those  of  all  other  parts  of  the 
country,  point  to  the  north  as  the  source  of  their  origin;  yet  there  is  this 
difference,  that  they  are  not  generally  derived  froin  for.  Those  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  south  shore  have  in  the  main  been  derived  from 
the  north  shore,  but  as  a  whole  they  are  not  very  numerous;  and  I  have 
Mr.  Foster's  authority  for  stating  that  very  few  have  passed  beyond  the 
dividing  ridge.  The  boulders  and  pebbles  of  the  opposite  slope  of  the  axis, 
although  more  numerous  than  on  the  northern  slope,  are  all  derived 
from  the  dividing  ridge  itself.  The  same  is  true  to  a  great  extent  of  those 
scattered  over  the  plains  and  prairies  of  Wisconsin  and  Illinois.  This 
ridge,  abounding  in  eruptive  and  nietamorphic  rocks,  is  therefore  to  be 
considered  henceforth  as  the  true  birth-place  of  the  boulders  scattered  over 
the  western  States,  and  we  need  no  longer  recur  to  high  northern  latitudes 
to  ascertain  their  origin.  The  drift  epoch  may  be  considered  as  closed 
with  the  transportation  of  the  boulders.  The  waters,  after  having  thus 
reached  their  highest  level — during  which  the  transport  of  the  boulders 
and  pebbles  was  accomplished — again  subsided.  With  this  subsidence 
commences  the  era  of  the  alluvium.  We  have  no  reason,  however,  to 
suppose  that  the  subsidence  was  sudden.  Everything  leads  us  to  believe, 
on  the  contrary,  that  it  was  gradual,  and  that  the  same  agencies  continued 
io  operate  to  a  certain  degree.  Thus  we  may  infer  that  beaches  were 
formed,  sand  bars  built  up,  and  boulders  transported,  in  the  same  manner 
as  before,  although  at  lower  levels.    Meanwhile,  the  former  and  higher 


T.,  Thunder  Cape.       I.  R.,  Isle  Royale. 
D.,  Dividing-i'idge. 


«H 


Jkit.  No.  a9. 


beaches  receded  more  and  more  from  the  shores;  the  bars,  shoals,  and 
•ub  marine  banks  appeared  ae  ridges  or  oesars  above  the  plains  recently 
laid  dry,  whilst*  new  ones  were  forming  at  lower  levels;  and  whenever 
tl^ie  water,  in  its  receding  movement,  stood  for  a  sufficient  time  at  the  same 
level  to  allow  the  new  shore  to  be  acted  upon  and  undermined  by  the 
waves,  these  bluffs  and  terraces  were  formed,  as  shown  before.  Now,  since 
terraces  and  ridges  occur  frequently  along  the  great  lakes,  they  may  be 
considered  as  a  conclusive  proof  that  the  subsidence  was  rea'.ly  gradual. 
In  this  respect,  terraces  and  ridges,  although  compsed  of  drift  materials, 
belong  properly  to  the  alluvial  period,  as  well  as  the  denudations  along 
the  channels  through  which  the  waters  are  supposed  to  have  been  dis- 
charged. I  shall  therefore  examine  them  with  more  detail  in  my  report 
upon  the  aliu .  ium.  Thus  far,  we  are  not  aware  of  any  striking  geological 
event — such  as  the  elevation  of  a  mountain  chain — having  taken  place 
between  the  two  epochs  of  the  drift  and  alluvium.  It  might  therefore  be 
asked  if  there  is  sufhcient  reason  to  separate  them.  There  are,  indeed, 
some  geologists  who  question  the  proprieiy  f^f  such  distinction.  My  chief 
motive  in  adopting  it  is  derived  from  all  of  the  drift  phenomena,  rather 
than  from  any  single  event. 

The  drift  is  the  last  phasis  of  any  importance  through  which  the  earth 
passed  before  it  became  fitted  for  the  habitation  of  man.  Were  it  not  for 
these  deposites,  a  great  portion  of  this  continent,  including  the  district  em- 
braced in  this  repo.t,  would  have  been  a  waste  of  naked  and  barren  rocks, 
covered  partially  with  heaps  pf  dry*  sand  or  rough  detrital  materials. 
Through  the  long-continued  agency  of  water,  these  materials  have  not 
only  been  reduced  and  dispersed,  but  also  mingled  in  such  proportions  as 
to  afford  a  most  appropriate  soil  for  vegetable  and  animal  life.  When, 
afterwards,  the  rise  of  the  continent  caused  the  waters  to  recede  within 
their  present  limits,  they  left  behind  them  those  wide,  drift-covered  plains, 
destined  ^o  become,  in  the  lapse  of  time,  the  seat  of  an  industrious,  in- 
telligent, and  prosperous  nation.  We  think  ourselves  justified  in  con- 
sidering the  period,  when  the  waters, after  having  done  their  work,  began 
to  recede,  as  the  beginning  of  that  new  and  grand  era  which  has  been 
properly  called  the  era  of  man,  and  of  which  the  alluvial  period  is  tlie 
introduction. 


.'.  ,-.'1    ',('.    ■^riiii-^  ii'     iii  i  [1-^^ 


'.-•       M.    .   ' 


i  1 1  )■•  .'  t  i 


;       i- .     ■ .    i<  ■  ■•'  ■.nil 

si.'.'.'.     .(  »  i'       ■-<'i  ■  '  t 

■       '( j..         .  .  •      <j'i  1     .>;•■•'■ 


tXs,     ••■ 


(  .  J  I  i    ' 

a    /• 


.-M'.. 


■J*.,;' 


1 

i 

. 

loals,  and 
s  recently 
whenever 

the  same 
3(1  by  the 
low,  since 
y  may  be 
J  gradual, 
materials, 
[>ns  along 

been  dis* 
my  report 
geological 
.ken  place 
lerefore  be 
e, indeed, 

My  chief 
ma,  rathei 

1  the  earth 

!  it  not  for 

istrict  em- 

ren  rocks, 

materials. 

I  have  not 

portions  as 

When, 

,e  within 

ed  plains, 

trious,  in- 

in  con- 

k,  began 

las  been 

od  is  tlje 

•  V  .  i .  I . 

,..•,,  5,;-, 

il  .•.'*.»» 
Mi  '  ? 

i  I      .  ■•  ;  .    W 
■H.    >\       ■ 

'!   ;v.  H 


Doe.  !Co.  69. 


21$ 


GLOSSARY  OF  MINING  AND  METALLURGIC  TERMS.    ^!f^^ 

i.i  ('v.i/;  111!'/  n  iu*!' »A— •  i^'>i\-.'\W 

For  convenient  reference,  we  have  prepared  the  annexed  glossary  of  the 
technical  and  provincial  terms  relating  the  science  of  mining  and  metal- 
lurgy, which  includes  most  of  those  in  use  in  this  country  and  in  books 
treating  of  these  subjects.  The  fact  that  a  great  number  of  Cornish  and 
Geftnan  miners  are  employed  in  our  mines  readily  accounts  for  the  intro- 
duction of  foreign,  provincial  and  technical  woras,  many  of  which  are 
already  in  familiar  use  in  the  Lake  Superior  cop|)er  region;  others  are 
used  in  foreign  works  treating  of  mining  and  metallurgy,  and  have  been 
adopted  in  English  books,  when  we  have  pp,  wpr4  expressing  exactly  (he 
same  idea.  ..,,,;,, ,^  .  i.i  / '     r,v«  t  ••  ^••■.•'n  v 

In  the  glossary,  the  letter  C,  affixed  to  a  word  signifies  that  it  is  of 
Cornish  origin;  F,  follows  a  term  adopted  from  the  French,  and  ^,  from 
the  German  language.   ','   .,  .-.'i  '.■■■!-■{> 


■:,{■: 


GLOSSARY. 


Abstrich. — (  G  ) — Impure  litharge  obtained  in  the  operation  of  separating 
silver  from  lead  ores. 

Abzug. — (G.) — The  first,  very  impure  litharge  which  is  formed  in  the 
operation  of  cupelling  argentiferous  lead-ores. 

Adit — aditlevel. — A  horizontal  excavation  or  gallery  through  which 
the  mine  is  drained.  The  aditlevel  is  usu&..y  commenced  from  the 
bottom  of  the  lowest  nfeighboring  valley,  and  extended  through  the  work- 
ings of  the  mine. 

Adventurers. — Shareholders,  or  those  interested  in  a  joint  mining  enter- 
prise. 

Air-machine. — Apparatus  for  ventilating  a  mine  by  withdrawing  the 
foul  air  firom  it,  or  by  forcing  in  pure  air  from  the  surface. 

Arch. — A  piece  of  ground  left  unworked  near  a  shaft. 

Attle. — Rubbish;  rock  contairing  too  little  ore  to  be  worth  working.     ' 

Average  standard — (C.) — The  price  per  ton  of  the  fine  copper  in  the 
ore,  after  deducting  the  charge  for  smelting,  which  amounts,  at  Swansea, 
to  £2  5s.  per  ton  of  ore. 

Back. — The  back  of  a  lode  is  that  part  of  it  which  is  nearest  the  surface 
in  relation  to  any  portion  of  the  workings  of  the  mine;  thus  the  back  of  the 
level  is  that  pari  of  the  lode  which  is  above. 

Bar. — Term  appFfed  in  Cornwall  to  a  vein  of  a  different  description  of 
mineral  crossing  the  lode  or  country. 

Beat  away. — To  excavate;  a  term  usually  applied  to  hard  ground. 

Bed. — A  seam  or  horizontal  depositc  of  ore. 

Bend. — (C.) — Indurated  clay;  term  applied  by  the  miner  to  any  hard- 
ened, argillaceous  substance. 

Blackjack. — (O.) — Blende,  sulphurct  of  zinc. 

Blast. — The  air  introdu 'ed  by  the  blowing  apparatus  into  the  furnaccf. 

Blower. — (  (J.) — A  smelter  of  ores. 


tto 


fide.  No.  69. 


Bounds.— (C) — The  limits  of  the  ownership  of  a  tract  containing  tin 
ore. 

Bras(fue.—  (F.)-  Alining  of  closely-beaten  charcoal,  or  other  carbona- 
ceous substance. 

Branch. — A  small  vein  which  strikes  out  from  the  main  lode,  or 
branches  from  it. 

Brood. — Impurities  mixed  with  the  ores. 
\.^roil. — The  traces  of  the  presence  of  a  lode  found  in  the  loose  matter 
iit  or  near  the  surface.  _.,...  f, 

Buckers. — Men  who  break  or  br^iise  the  ore.  '  .    > 

'  ^urfrf/»w^.— Separating  the  ores  from  the  mixture  of  earthy  substaoce* 
ty  means  of  a  wooden  frame  or  cistern  filled  with  water.  ^^ 

Bunch. — A  small  quantity  of  ore  in  a  compact  mass  in  the  vein. 
**  Cal. — (O.) — Wolfram;  tnngstate  of  iron  and  manganese.  | 

^^   Chnd. — (C.) — Pluor-spiar.  .  •       f      i     ;»      ,v>v 

Captain. — Superintendent  of  a  mine.  *     , 

Caunter  (or  contfn)  lode. — A  lode  formirtg  an  angle  with  the  ordinary 
direction  of  the  other  lodes  in  its  vicinity.  ,  .  >v 

Chartipionlode. — The  principal  lode  of  a  mine.    '   '      '     -  •^    .'■- 

Clack. — The  valve  of  a  pump  6f  any  kind.  • -orro  i**r  *   ^-^      .;a 

Cob. — To  break  up  the  ore  with  hammers,  so  as  to  sort  out  the  valua- 
ble portion  of  it. 

Cockle. — Schorl,  or  black  toprmaline:        ■  .        ,    ,       r  •  ..t. 

-  Coffin. — Old  workings  open  (o  the  day. 

Comb. — The  arrangement  of  the  mineral  contents  of  the  lode  jn  paral- 
lel, crystalline  masses. 

Cost-book  system. — The  method  of  working  a  mine  according  to  cer- 
tain regulations,  by  which  the  adventurers  may  at  any  time  "sign  off," 
and  cease  to  be  liable  for  any  further  expenditure  in  proving  the  mine. 
The  plan  is  to  insert  in  the  "cost-b  'ok"  the  name  and  address  of  each 
of  the  adventurers  who  first  work  the  mine,  with  all  subsequent  transfers 
of  shares,  and  every  expense  attached  to  the  undertaking;  a  meeting  of 
the  proprietors  is  held  every  two  nionths,  at  which  the  purser  presents 
his  accounts,  made  up  to  that  period,  and  the  share- holders  are  thus 
enabled  to  judge  of  the  state  of  the  undertaking  before  incurring  any 
further  liabilities!. 

Counti-y. — The  strata  or  rock  which  the  vein  traverses;  the  rock  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  vein. 

Course. — The  direction  of  the  vein. 

Cross  course. — A  lode  or  vein  which  intersects  another  at  a  considera- 
ble angle,  and.  which  frequently  throws  the  first  out  of  its  course. 

Ckoss-cour^e  spar. — (C.) — Radiated  quartz.  j,. 

Cross  cut. — A  level  driven  at  right  angles  with  another  to  intersect  the 
lode. 

Crop. — The  best  ore.  .    .  ,.,    ^ 

Crop  out. — To  come  to  the  surface;  referring  to  strita.  -.    . 

Crush. — To  grind  the  ores  without  water.  '      .  ,..  >• 

Cut. — To  inlersect  by  driving  or  sinking.  *  » 

Costeaning, — Discovering  the  situation  of  a  lode  by  sinking  pits  in  its 
Wcinity,  and  driving  transversely  to  iijtersect  it, 

Cofering. — Securing  the  shaft  from  the  influx  of  water  by  ramming 
clay,  &c.,  around  the  sides  of  the  timber. 


Doc.  No.  60^ 


iii 


•V'v 


rock  in 


Dam — .(C.) — Choke  damp;  foul  air. 

Dajrlinge. — (  Q.) — Residue  of  copper  in  the  p,"  '•ss^of  separating  silver 
from  copper  in  the  liquation  process. 

Dead-work. — Work  where  the  vein  is  not  productive,  or  work  which  is 
done  without  obtaining  any  ore. 

Dearia. — ^Rubbish;  attle;  v«?instone  barren  of  ore.  . 

Dialling. — Mining  enginee/ing;  surveying  within  a  mine. 

Dish. — (C.) — That  portion  of  the  produce  of  a  n^jiue  paid  as  rei\t  to 
the  owner  or  lord.  '''"'''.■;'■ '^   ., 

Dissueing. — Breaking  down  the  strata  frono  one  of  t!he  Iralls  of  h.  rich 
and  narrow  vein,  so  that  it  can  afterwards  be  taken  down  without  loss 
or  waste. 

Dropper. — A  branch  which  leaves  the  main  lode. 

Driving. — Excavating  in  a  horizontal  direction;  opposed  to  sinking  or 
excavating  in  a  vertical  direction. 

Drift. — Horizontal  excavation. 

Dress. — To  clean  the  ore  by  breaking  off  h^gments  of  the  gangue  from 
the  valuable  ore. 

Ebmns. — (  C.) — Dikes  of  granite  and  feldspar;  porphyritic  rocks  cutting 
the  slates  and  granites  of  Cornwall. 

Engincshctft. — The  shaft  by  which  the  water  is  drawn  from  the  lowest 
portion  of  the  mine.  ^- 

Feeder. — A  branch  falling  into  the  main  lode. 

Fault. — A  sudden  interruption  of  the  continuity  of  strata  in  the  same 
plane,  accompanied  by  a  cmck  or  fissure  of  a  width  varying  firom  a  mere 
line  to  several  feet. 

Flucan. — Decomposed,  clayey  matter,  accompanying  the  slides  and 
cross-courses,  and  sometimes  the  lode  itself. 

Foot-wall. — The  wall  on  the  lower  side  of  the  lode. 

Gangue. — The  non-metal! iferous  portion  of  the  lode;  the  mineral 
substances  accompanying  the  ore. 

Gad. — ^A  pointed  wedge  of  a  peculiar  form,  having  its  sides  of  a  parol* 
lei  figure. 

Gctrkupfer. — (G.) — Refined  copper.  \ 

Glist.—(C.)— Mica. 

Good  levels. — Nearly  horizontal  levels. 

Gossan. — Oxide  of  iron,  intermixed  with  quartz,  generally  found  near 
the  surfaoe,  in  the  lode  or  accompanying  it. 

Grass. — The  surface;  the  open  air.  '  "^ 

Growan. — (C.) — Decomposed  granite. 

Chround. — ^The  rock  which  is  adjacent  to  thelod©;  the  strata  in  which 
the  lode  occurs. 

Gvlphof  are. — A  very  large  deposite  of  ore  in  the  lode. 

Hanging-wall. — The  wall  or  side  above  the  lode,  in  contra-distinction 
to  the  foot- wall. 

Heave. — The  horizontal  dislocation  which  occurs  when  one  lode  is  in- 
tersected by  another  liaving  a  different  direction. 

Hoisc. — The  dead  ground  between  two  branches  of  a  lode. 

Joggling-table. — Inclined  board,  and  which  is  made  to  move  with  a 
sudden  and  quick  motion,  used  in  washing  the  ores. 

Jiff To  separate  the  ore  with  a  riddle  or  wire-bottomed  sieve,  the 

lieavier  substance  sinking  to  tlie  bottom  of  the  .sieve 


I 


m 


Boc.  No.  m 


.  r 


Junction. — Point  where  two  veins,  or  different  rocks,  unite.       s". 

Ktevc. — A  larce  vat. 

Kibble. — The  bucket  in  whicji  the  ore  and  attle  are  sent  to  the  surface. 

Ki/.las.—(  a  ;— Clay  slate. 

Kupfer-stein,  (  G.) — Roguhis  from  conpery-lead  ores  twice  roasted. 

Lander. — The  man  who  attends  at  tno  rnouth  of  the  shaft  to  receive 
the  ores  as  they  are  sent  to  the  surface,     j        .     -    ?;    ^r'.     ^.  ■     i' », 

Leader. — A  branch  of  the  main  vein. 

Levels. — Galleries  driven  on  the  lode  at  various  depths,  generally  at 
intervals  of  ten  fathoms. 

LAfters. — Wooden  beams  to  which  the  stamp-heads  are  fastened 

Lode. — Regular  vein  producing  ore.  ;,» 

Loupe. — (F.) — Bloom,  from  the  puddling  furnace.      '  .\     .       ;     V 

Matte. — (F.) — Regulus,  melted  sulphuret. 

Mock  lead. — Blende,  sulphuret  of  zinc.  '       • ..    •  ,i    >  i» 

Moor-stone. — (O.) — Granite.  '  '.      .» 

Mundic. — (Q.) — Iron  pyrites. 

Needle. — A  long,  tapering  piece  of  copper  used  in  iamping  the  hole  for 
blasting,  in  order  to  leave  a  cavity  for  inserting  the  ^'^i'ety-fuse. 

Pack. — To  occasion  the  speedy  subsidence  of  the  '.>re  in  the  process  of 
tossing  or  chiming,  by  beating  the  keeve  with  a  harmner. 

Pair. — Gang,  or  party  of  men.  •    '  ; 

Parcel. — A  heap  of  ore  ready  for  sale.  - 

Pass. — An  opening  left  for  letting  down  stuff  to  th 3  level. 

PtacA.— (' C.;— Chlorite. 

Pick. — A  common  instrument  for  mining  and  agricultural  purposes. 

Pillar.— k  piece  of  ground  lei'tto  support  the  hanging  wall. 

Pitman. — One  employed  to  look  afie-  th.e  lifts  of  pumps  and  the  drain- 
age. 

Pit-work. — The  pumps  am!  other  apparatus  of  the  engine-shaft. 

Point  of  the  horse. — The  spot  where  the  lode  splits  or  divides  into  two 
parts. , 

Pot  grown. — (C) — Soft  decomposed  granite. 
^   Prion. — (  C.) — Soft,  white  clay^  esteemed  in  Cornwall  a  favorable  sign, 
when  found  near  a  lode. 

Rack. — An  inclined  frame  on  which  ores  are  washed. 

Middle. — A  sieve  for  washing  the  ores. 

Rosette. — (P.) — Dish  of  refined  copper  taken  off  from  the  surface  by 
throwing  on  cold  water. 

Run  of  a  lode. — Its  direction.  .       > 

Saalbdnd. — (G.) — Plural  saalbdndcr,  selvages,  or  thin  bands  of  earthy 
matter,  generally  argillaceous,  on  each  side  of  the  vein  next  to  the  wall-rock. 

Sett. — The  portion  of  ground  taken  on  lease  for  mining  purposes. 
,,  Schlich. — (G.) — Finely  pulverized  ore  mud. 

Slag. — Silicious  substances  formed  in  the  various  processes  of  smelt- 
ing and  refining,  principally  silicates  of  the  protoxide  of  iron,  alumina,  lime, 
and  magnesia,  generally  containing  a  small  portion  of  various  metallic 
substances. 

Shaft. — A  vertical  or  inclined  excavation  in  the  lode  or  through  the 
country. 

^pleissofon. — (G.) — Copper  refining  furnace  vvith  two  receivers  for  the 
fused  melal. 


th 


Doc.  No.  69. 


v.> 


m 


^. 


I 


Shrrirs. — Apparatus  for  raising  or  lowering  heavy  articles  in  the 

S/iclf  -Tlifi  solid  rock. 

S/iof/tni^, — Tracing  the  situation  of  a  lode  by  means  of  the  loose 
of  ore  and  veinstone  which  have  been  separated  from   it  and  scaiicrud  iu 
its  neighborhood. 

Shooting. — Blasting  with  gunpowder. 

Sinking. — Excavating  downwards  in  the  shaft. 

Slide. — A  vertical  dislocation  of  the  lode. 

Sfirkrmn'fes. — Polished,  argillaceous  surfaces  of  the  rock,  cati^sed  by  the 
rubbing  nud  grinding  of  large  masses  against  each  other. 

Stockiocrk. — (G.) — An  assemblage  of  small  irregular  strings  of  ore, 
which  has  no  regular  form  like  a  true  vein,  but  in  which  the  ore  seems  to 
have  been  disseminated  through  the  fissures  in  the  rocks. 

Slimes. — Metallic  ores  uiixed  with  finely-comminuted  particles  of  the 
rock.  •  ";.-^ 

Smelt. — The  reduction  of  metals  from  their  ores  by  the  aid  of  heat^  in 
the  usual  metallurgic  treatment  in  the  large  way,  is  called  smelting. 

Sollar. — The  small  platform  at  the  end  of  a  certain*  number  of  ladders. 

Spnlling — Breaking  up  the  rock  into  small  pieces  for  the  purpose  of 
separating  the  ore. 

Stamp. — To  break  up  the  ore  and  gangue  by  machinery,  with  the  aid 
of  water,  for  the  purpose  of  washing  out  the  heavier  metallic  particles. 

Stamp-head. — The  iron  end  of  the  beam  which  by  its  weight  breaks 
the  fragments  of  ore  iu  the  process  of  stamping. 

Stfrpe. — To  excavate  the  space  between  two  levels  by  a  succession  of 
slop-like  workings.  ' 

String. — A  small  vein. 

Stuff. — Attle,  or  rubbish. 

Sump. — The  bottom  of  the  engine-shaft,  into  which  the  water  is  allowed 
to  run,  and  from  which  it  is  pumped  or  removed  by  some  other  means. 

TucLlc. — The  windlass,  rope,  and  kibble. 

Tamping. — The  substance  with  which  the  hole  in  blasting  is  filled  af- 
ter the  charge  of  powder  has  been  introduced;  also,  the  process  of  filling 
the  hole  is  called  tamping. 

Thrown. — A  lode  is  said  to  be  thrown  up  or  down  when  it  is  intersected 
by  a  slide  by  which  a  portion  of  the  lode  has  been  removed  from  its  ori- 
ginal position  to  one  side  or  the  other. 

Ticketings. — (Q.) — The  weekly  public  sales  of  ore. 

Trilmte. — The  system  of  working  by  tribute  is  that  under  which  the 
workman  receives  a  certain  proportion  cf  the  ore  which  he  raises  as  a  re- 
turn for  his  labor. 

Trunk. — A  long  narrow  inclined  box,  in  which  the  separation  of  the 
finely- washed  ore  from  the  earthy  impurities  is  eflected. 

Tunnel-head. — The  top  of  a  furnace,  where  the  materials  are  put  in. 

Tut%cork. — Work  in  which  the  laborer  is  paid  in  proportion  to  the 
amount  done — generally  at  so  much  per  fathom  in  driving  or  sinking. 

Tuyere. — Pipe  through  which  the  blast  is  introduced  into  the  furnace. 

Underlie. — The  dip  or  deviation  of  a  vein  or  bed  from  the  perpen- 
dicular. 

Van. — To  cleanse  a  small  portion  of  ore  by  washing  away  the  earthy, 
matter,  by  the  aid  of  a  shovel  or  some  similar  implement. 


m 


2U 


Poc.  No.  6^. 


VHn. — The  contents  of  a  fissure  in  the  rock0;Of  indefinite  length  and 
depd). 

^ur. — (C.)^-A  cavity  in  the  vein,  generally  lined  with  crystals.    •> 

Tfall. — The  side  of  the  rocks  adjacent  to  the  vein.  , 

Washing. — ^The  process  of  separating  the  ore  from  the  earthy  impurities 
by  the  aid  of  water,  the  particles  of  ore  and  earthy  matler  arranging  them- 
selves in  different  positions  according  to  their  different;  specific  gravities. 

WMm. — A  macnine  consisting  of  a  drum  revolving  vertically  by  horse, 
Steam,  or  water  power,  by  which,  with  the  aid  of  a  rope  and  pulley,  th« 
ores  are  raised  from  the  bottom  of  the  mine. 

Whimsha/t. — The  shad  through  which  the  ore  is  raised  by  means  of  a 
whim. 

Whip  and  deny. — The  simplest  method  of  raising  the  kibble  by  means 
of  a  single  pulley;  the  kibble  is  attached  to  a  rope,  which  is  drawn  by  a 
horse. 

Winxe. — A  shaft  sunk  from  one  level  to  another,  for  vontHlation,  or  for 
proving  the  vein.  A  winze  differs  from  a  shaft  in  not  being  open  to  tha 
siw^ce^  like  Ui9  IftU^r. 


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